Rand Merchant Bank headline sponsor for Solar Power Africa

Financial services firm Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has been announced as the headline sponsor for solar power and energy storage industry event Solar Power Africa, which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from February 16 to 18, industry body South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) said. Organised by events firm Messe Frankfurt in partnership with SAPVIA, Solar Power Africa is a three-day event and attendees will benefit from direct access to expert insights and solutions to a range of challenges, as well as key trends and developments in the renewable energy market.
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Ngonye sun-tracking solar plant in Zambia a pioneer in sub-Saharan Africa

Renewable energy multinational Enel Green Power’s (EGP’s) Ngonye solar plant, in the Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone, is using tracking systems that feature solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to track the movement of the sun throughout the day, capturing sunlight and converting the energy into electricity. EGP highlights that this is the only site in sub-Saharan Africa to use tracking technology from Convert Italia, with the choice to use this made when designated land from the solar farm was not large enough to accommodate the planned infrastructure.
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South African prepaid startup WiSolar plans initial fundraise

WiSolar, a South African startup that sells solar power on a prepaid basis, plans to raise R45-million this quarter in its first funding round as it gears up for growth. The company, founded by Tonye Irims in 2016, plans to expand from offering its product to residential home owners to working with property developers to install decentralised solar-power systems in buildings being constructed. Its current model sees systems installed at properties that are then paid for over as long as 72 months through the prepaid purchase of power.
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Corruption Watch turns focus to Eskom in review of Zondo Commission report

Corruption Watch has released its latest statement sharing findings of the first report released by the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, which identifies the key players who Judge Raymond Zondo believes were embroiled in what he termed a “mastery of undue influence” at State-owned enterprises (SOEs). Corruption Watch this time turned its focus to former Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba, who is alleged to have interfered in Eskom’s business dealings with Gupta-owned TNA Media, despite many protestations to the contrary, when SOEs were under his watch between 2010 and 2014.
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Kenya hit by nationwide blackout after major transmission line breaks

Kenya is experiencing a nationwide power outage after a high voltage transmission line connecting the capital broke, State-controlled utility Kenya Power said on Tuesday. Kenya Power said the blackout occurred after towers supporting a high voltage power line connecting the capital to the Kiambere hydroelectric dam had collapsed.
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Eskom calls for community help to combat theft, vandalism of its assets

State-owned power utility Eskom requests that community members play an active role in preventing criminal activities and minimise vandalism of its assets. Eskom continues to experience high incidents of theft and vandalism of its distribution infrastructure around the country. The perpetrators vandalise and steal transformers and copper cables and bypass meter boxes, substations, control rooms and security fences, impacting on the security of supply.
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JERA, MHI demo plant aimed at increasing ammonia co-firing rate at coal-fired boilers

Japanese power generation company JERA and industrial equipment manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will conduct a project to develop and demonstrate technology to increase the ammonia co-firing rate at coal-fired boilers, after their grant application, under the Green Innovation Fund programme of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation, was accepted. This project aims to develop an ammonia single-fuel burner suitable for coal-fired boilers and to demonstrate operation of the burner at actual boilers. The project is expected to continue until 2028.
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The EU includes nuclear in a draft amendment to its clean energy ‘taxonomy’

The European Commission, which is the executive branch of the European Union (EU), has included nuclear energy in its draft ‘Complementary Designated Act’ (CDA) of the EU ‘Taxonomy Regulation’ regarding green energy. The draft CDA, which had previously been leaked to the media, has now been formally released to EU member states for consultation. (The draft CDA also includes natural gas as a green energy source, but only on a transitional basis. This means that natural gas will have to be phased out as more sustainable energy sources become available. The terminal date for the construction of taxonomy-compliant natural gas energy projects is December 31, 2030.)
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Sefa provides $1m to support Botswana’s energy transition

The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (Sefa), managed by development finance institution the African Development Bank (AfDB), has approved a $1-million grant to facilitate Botswana’s transition to clean energy. The technical assistance project supports the government of Botswana in closing critical gaps in policy, regulatory and legal frameworks, which were identified at the Africa Energy Market Place and which include the introduction of least-cost planning, reduction of adverse environmental impacts and support for increased private sector participation in renewable energy generation investments.
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Clean energy and climate change on South Africa’s radar

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses decarbonisation as an opportunity to create quality employment; South Africa’s need to transition to clean energy without creating job losses and ghost towns in areas where fossil fuels provide the overwhelming economic support; and South Africa’s appreciation of platinum fuel cells being recognised increasingly as the world’s only zero-emission answer to climate change.  
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