Earth & Wire and Energy Exchange of Southern Africa sign PPA

Independent electricity brand Earth & Wire has signed a 12-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Energy Exchange of Southern Africa to provide 5 MW, or 13 GWh/y, of solar energy to Mediclinic and another large customer. The power will be generated from the Slimsun Too photovoltaic project, near Malmesbury, in the Western Cape, and delivered to the customers using power utility Eskom’s national grid.
/by

Climate Commission set sights on energy mix as it wraps up work on just transition framework

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is initiating a process of research and consultation on South Africa’s future energy mix, which it aims to present to Cabinet before the end of 2022. Speaking at a conference hosted by the RES4Africa Foundation in Johannesburg, executive director Dr Crispian Olver said that the commission was close to finalising its work on a just transition framework and that it was, thus, turning its attention to the country’s energy mix.
/by

Nuclear-powered carbon capture technology project in the UK

A UK-based consortium has reported that nuclear power plants (NPPs) could provide the heat necessary to enable a technology to capture carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere (an approach known as ‘direct air capture’ or DAC, for short). The consortium comprised EDF Sizewell C (a UK subsidiary of the French EDF group and holder of 20% of the proposed Sizewell C NPP project), UK company Strata Technology, the University of Nottingham (in England), Doosan Babcock (a UK subsidiary of the South …
/by

R40m earmarked to help curb, prevent electricity vandalism in Cape Town

The City of Cape Town is investing R40-million to curb and prevent vandalism of electricity infrastructure in the province. The funds were set aside as part of the city’s approved 2022/23 budget. In a media release on Monday, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen said that the injection would focus on securing critical infrastructure and to further boost security patrols in hotspot areas and permanent security deployments to strategic energy …
/by

SAPVIA elects Dr Rethabile Melamu CEO, Chanda Nxumalo chairperson

Industry organisation the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has elected Dr Rethabile Melamu as its new CEO and Chanda Nxumalo as its new chairperson during the organisation’s tenth annual general meeting held on June 9. Melamu is a chemical and environmental engineer by training and has become renowned for her international expertise in the green economy and energy sectors.
/by

Anuva seeks to expand solar PV investment portfolio

Alternative investment fund manager Anuva Investments is seeking to collaborate with industry experts and reputable engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partners to fund solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the agricultural, commercial and industrial, as well as residential space.

To supplement its existing agriculture-focussed solar PV project pipeline with projects in the Western Cape and North West provinces, Anuva will continue to source and secure new technical partners in other sectors.

/by

Eskom probes fire at Duvha power station

A fire broke out at Unit 2 of the Duvha power station in Mpumalanga on Monday morning, Eskom has confirmed. In a statement, spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said the fire had been extinguished quickly and no injuries to staff had been reported. 
/by

Motsepe plans to boost clean power generation seven fold

African Rainbow Energy and Power (AREP), backed by South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, is looking to boost renewable power generation sevenfold to become one of the biggest clean electricity providers on the continent. The Johannesburg-based company ultimately has a target of adding as much as 5 000 MW of assets. It’s invested in more than 700 MW already and looking with partners at an additional 2 000 MW by the end of the second quarter next year.
/by

Exxaro secures Nersa registration for 80 MW solar project at its Grootegeluk coal mine

Diversified mining and renewable energy company Exxaro Resources and its wholly-owned subsidiary Cennergi has confirmed the successful registration of the 80 MW Lephalale Solar Project (LSP) by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa and the regulator’s executive committee.

The project marks the first phase of decarbonisation at the Grootegeluk mine, in Limpopo.

/by

New report outlines strategy for ending load-shedding by early 2024, but delivery hinges on …

A comprehensive strategy for drastically reducing, or even eliminating, the scourge of rotational power cuts in South Africa by early 2024 has been outlined in a new public-interest report published by Meridian Economics. The authors warn, however, that load-shedding is poised to rise to extreme levels unless unprecedented interventions, underpinned by “substantial political will”, are taken urgently to introduce about 10 GW of mostly wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) generators into the energy starved system by that date.
/by