1.27 GW of new, clean power supplied to S Africa

Global wind and solar company Mainstream Renewable Power (RP) announced in October that 12 of its projects have won preferred bidder status in round five of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The wind and solar projects, which have a total capacity of 1.27 GW, represent half of the total allocation in the round, which was the most competitive to date, being almost four times oversubscribed.  
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Renewable-energy projects create economic, power growth

Renewable power generation company Lekela Power says its projects have grown from the 80 MW produced from wind farms in Noupoort, in the Northern Cape of South Africa, in 2016, to more than 1 GW. “In South Africa, through the various rounds of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), Lekela Power has invested in five projects of up to 620 MW of generation through wind farms across the country. This makes up the biggest part of our portfolio,” says Lekela Power COO Chris Ford.
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Bid Window 5 bidders announced

Last month, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announced the preferred bidders for Bid Window 5 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). This will see just short of 2 600 MW of new generation capacity being developed by independent power producers (IPPs), including 1 600 MW from onshore wind energy and 1 000 MW from solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants. This is in line with the government’s intention to increase generation capacity and ensure the security of energy supply to society.
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Multiple energy projects meet industry demands

Renewable-energy provider Africa Clean Energy Solutions (ACES) Renewables is developing multiple renewable-energy projects across South Africa. “We are developing a 10 MW biomass plant, in Mpumalanga, which will provide power for the surrounding mines in the area. We are also developing a 2.8 MW photovoltaic (PV) solar farm – with the possibility of increasing to 10 MW – in Kariega, Gqeberha, which will supply power to surrounding industrial clients,” says ACES Renewables technical project manager Tumelo Lekalakala.
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As global steel industry mulls sustainable solutions, SA urged to ‘green’ iron-ore

Producing ‘green steel’ in South Africa might be a distant dream, but exporting ‘green iron-ore’ is achievable in the medium term, says Afriforesight materials engineer and project innovation manager Dr Brandon Davoren. Amid the global trend towards sustainability and in the wake of the twenty-sixth United Nations’ Climate Change Conference of the Parties, or COP26, mining companies and steel producers are considering the viability of ‘greening’ the steel industry and, as a result, the iron-ore sector.
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South Africa urged to move quickly to capitalise on battery storage value chain opportunities

An ongoing study funded by the World Bank under the guiding leadership of mineral research organisation Mintek has found that there are considerable opportunities for South Africa in the battery storage value chain. The country, however, needs to move quickly to capitalise on these opportunities to ensure that valuable resources and financial benefits do not leave the region, it was revealed during the World Bank’s Battery Storage Value Chain Creation in Southern Africa Online stakeholder engagement workshop, held on December 9.
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Steinmüller Africa to upgrade high-pressure heaters at Tutuka, Duvha power stations

High-temperature and pressure static equipment solutions provider Steinmüller Africa has received two orders to upgrade State-owned utility Eskom’s Tutuka and Duhva power stations, in Mpumalanga, with a total of 14 new high-pressure heaters. As specified by Eskom’s requirements, these header-type heaters will range from 12 m to 14 m long and will be 2 m in diameter.
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Central Termica de Temane power project in Mozambique reaches financial close

Independent power company Globeleq, energy and chemicals multinational Sasol and Mozambique State-owned power utility Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) have announced financial close of the Central Termica de Temane (CTT) power project. Located at Temane, in the Inhambane province, CTT comprises 450 MW gas-fired power plant, which will supply power to EDM under a 25-year tolling agreement.
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Eskom requests 20.5% increase in tariff application for 2022/23

Creamer Media’s Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about Eskom’s tariff application of 2022/23, the initial confusion about whether Eskom’s request might be higher than 20.5% and the consultation process by Nersa.
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City Lodge reinvents itself for competitive edge

City Lodge Hotel Group’s new Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City, in Midrand, which opened on March 1, offers a full dining experience, a move away from a breakfast-only offering. This represents the vision for the group moving forward. Tasneem Bulbulia tells us more.
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