Solar-battery hybrids worth R16bn only projects to cross ‘emergency procurement’ finish line

The South Africa government and Eskom have signed agreements with three of the 11 projects named as preferred bidders in March 2021 under the much-delayed Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP). The 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) and associated implementation agreements, were signed on June 2 with Scatec, of Norway, for three solar-battery hybrid projects that will provide 150 MW of dispatchable renewable electricity from 5:00 in the morning to 21:30 in the evening.
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Toyota, Woven Planet develop portable hydrogen cartridge prototype

Japanese mobility group Toyota and its subsidiary Woven Planet have developed a working prototype of a portable hydrogen cartridge.  This cartridge design is set to facilitate the everyday transport and supply of hydrogen energy to power a broad range of daily life applications in and outside of the home. 
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Pandemic, Ukraine war impede global energy development – report

The impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, including lockdowns, disruptions to global supply chains and the diversion of fiscal resources to keep food and fuel prices affordable, have affected the pace of progress toward the United Nations’ seventh Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by 2030.

This is according to the 2022 edition of ‘Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report’, which shows that advances have been impeded particularly in the most vulnerable countries and those already lagging in energy access.

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Eskom warns power system is ‘severely constrained’

Eskom warned on Thursday afternoon of a “severely constrained” power system and said it might have to implement load-shedding at short notice.  “Should there be any significant breakdowns, load-shedding may be required at short notice, most likely during the evening peak of 17:00 and 22:00,” the utility said in a statement.
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Role confirmed for local green entrepreneurs in economic recovery, just transition

There are a number of opportunities for local green entrepreneurs in South Africa and they can play a pivotal role in the country’s economic recovery and just energy transition; however, it is imperative that challenges in the ecosystem be addressed and for support for participants to be bolstered. This was indicated by speakers during economic research institute Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies’ webinar, titled “Unpacking the Green Economy Ecosystem: Business Development Support Services for Local Green Entrepreneurs”, on June 1.
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Funder says Eskom’s $8.7bn power plant won’t make money

An $8.7-billion power plant in South Africa won’t ever make a profit because of delays, design defects and increasing opposition to coal-fired electricity generation, one of its funders said. Cost overruns at the 4 764 MW Medupi coal-fired plant, owned by Eskom Holdings, along with the even larger Kusile facility are seen as key reasons for the State utility’s R396-billion debt burden. The project will not meet anticipated returns over its life and is unlikely to stay open that long as pressure grows to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, said the African Development Bank (AfDB), which approved a €930-million loan for its construction in 2009.
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DMRE agrees to adopt amended African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research

The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, on May 31, unanimously voted to adopt the amended African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research (AFRA) as presented by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE). Although South Africa has been signatory to the AFRA since its inception in 1990, the agreement has been amended to include two aspects, including that it remain in force indefinitely and to make provision for withdrawal. AFRA seeks to promote cooperation in the …
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Karpowership slates South African government over project delays

Karpowership, the world’s biggest supplier of floating gas-fired power plants, said some South African government agencies have stalled its projects and their conduct isn’t conducive to creating an attractive investment environment. The Turkish company in March last year won the right to supply South Africa with 1,220 megawatts of electricity, or more than 60% of a so-called emergency tender designed to ease intermittent power outages. The 20-year deal was valued at 218 billion rand ($14 billion) at the time.
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Kusile Unit 4 enters commercial operation, two more units to go

Eskom has announced that Kusile Unit 4, in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, has entered into commercial operation, adding some 800 MW of much-needed generation capacity to South Africa’s load-shedding-prone electricity system. The unit is the fourth of six units to enter commercial operation at the much-delayed 4 800-MW project, where design defects have also negatively affected the performance of the units that have been connected previously.
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Small nuclear power projects may have big waste problems – study

A planned new generation of small nuclear reactors will create more waste than conventional reactors, while treatments to make some types of waste safe could be exploited by militants trying to obtain fissile materials, a study published on Tuesday said. The projects, called small modular reactors (SMR), are designed to be simpler and safer than conventional plants in the case of accident. They are also expected to be built in factories as opposed to today’s massive light-water reactors that are built on site and typically run billions of dollars over budget.
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