Faster-than-ever renewable electricity growth supports emergence of a new global energy economy

Stronger policies and raised climate goals leading into COP26 are driving renewables to new records, but faster deployment across all key sectors is needed to reach net zero, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says in a new report. It adds that the growth of the world’s capacity to generate electricity from solar panels, wind turbines and other renewable technologies is on course to accelerate over the coming years, with this year expected to set a fresh all-time record for new installations.
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Tesla’s SA partner raising renewable energy’s profile in SA

US automotive manufacturer Tesla’s South African partner, Rubicon Group brought the first Tesla Model X Performance Edition all-electric sports utility vehicle into the country to raise renewable energy’s profile in the country. Simone Liedtke, who saw a demonstration of the vehicle, tells us more.
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Germiston-based DNG Energy receives first LNG shipment

Pan-African liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply network DNG Energy has received a shipment of LNG at its plant in Germiston, enabling the company to accelerate its pilot projects with its partners in the next few weeks.

DNG Energy’s pilot projects aim to test the feasibility of using LNG as an alternative to diesel, as a proof-of-concept for a cleaner and more affordable option for transport, industrial power generation and mining.

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Eskom estimates it will take four or five days to restore power to Bedfordview following cable theft

State-owned power utility Eskom on November 30 said an attempted cable theft incident has affected supply to the Bedfordview substation, which supplies the City of Ekurhuleni’s (CoE’s) Bedfordview customers. Given the extent of the damage, it may take four to five days to restore supply.
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IFC, partners to build 100 MW solar plant in south-eastern DRC

Development finance institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is providing $900 000 in funding for project development costs for an independent power producer (IPP) project in Kolwezi, in the south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project entails a 100 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) installation, with the power to be sold to the national utility and support mining operations and economic activity in the region.
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PPC to invest R664m to 2025 to kick-start decarbonisation journey

JSE-listed building materials group PPC has outlined a new decarbonisation strategy that includes firm targets for implementation by 2025 and 2030 and also outlines a long-term aspirational goal of transitioning its operations to net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050. The strategy is contained in the group’s inaugural Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report and the targets have been set using the 2020 financial year as the base.
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Mainstream raises additional €90m

Wind and solar power multinational Mainstream Renewable Power raised €90-million in additional funding to accelerate new market entries and the build-out of gigawatt-scale wind and solar assets across Latin America, Africa and the Asia Pacific region, the company said on November 29. The funding round will help accelerate the company’s growth, extend its footprint and support its ambitions of building a global renewable energy major.
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South Africa seeks to end policy ambiguity delaying Eskom rescue

South Africa will soon agree on a comprehensive, unified approach to turning around Eskom Holdings, which is saddled with R402-billion in debt, according to the minister who oversees the state power utility. Eskom, which depends on coal for the bulk of its electricity generation, has subjected the country to intermittent rolling blackouts for more than a decade and accounts for about 40% of its climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Wide-ranging and at times conflicting suggestions for fixing the company have been flighted by the National Treasury, the energy department and the utility itself.
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Scatec signs agreement for 20 MW solar project in Lesotho

Norway-based renewable power producer Scatec has entered into an agreement with the Lesotho Electricity Company and the government of Lesotho to build the first independent power producer (IPP) solar project in Lesotho. A related power purchase agreement (PPA), connection agreement and implementation agreement were signed at an official ceremony held in Lesotho’s capital, Maseru, which marked the culmination of successful negotiations with the Lesotho Electricity Company and the government of Lesotho.
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Rigging qualifications awarded to youth

Last month, Italian energy company Enel Green Power South Africa (EGP RSA) announced that it had decided to help 20 unemployed youngsters from the Raymond Mhlaba district in the Eastern Cape acquire basic rigging skills. Ten young men and ten young women completed a five-day course, which culminated in a graduation ceremony. This took place on September 17 at the company’s Nxuba Wind Farm and was attended by members of the government, as well as EGP country manager and CEO William Price. The students were commended for their commitment to the programme and awarded a basic rigging qualification.
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