Opinion The new 100 MW threshold – the best megawatt remains the megawatt not used

In this opinion piece, South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) energy efficiency and corporate communications GM Barry Bredenkamp writes about the importance of South Africa continuing to pursue energy efficiency despite the prospect of increased power generation capacity.
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EPC regulations roll out promoted

The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) is actively promoting the roll-out of the new Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Regulations. This is being done through SANAS’ new accreditation programme for accreditation of inspection bodies that will issue EPCs for buildings in accordance with the South African National Standard, SANS 1544.
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Company achieves milestone

Rapidly growing demand in the industrial sector, has seen nitrogen generation equipment supplier Nitralife recently achieving the milestone of having supplied more than 100 customised Nitracut generators to the fabrication and industrial sector over the past four years. “With each new sector and application, we have developed greater expertise and understanding, which has allowed us to offer customers the best and most appropriate technology and solution for their application,” says Nitralife MD Tom Sowry.
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Quarter-four completion for R135m solar carports project at Ford’s Silverton plant

The 13.5 MW, R135-million solar carport project at Ford South Africa’s Silverton assembly plant, in Pretoria, should be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, says Uhuru Energy CEO Mark Kaplan. The project forms part of a larger programme – Project Blue Oval – to develop an integrated renewable-energy solution for the facility, with the aim for the plant to be entirely green and energy self-sufficient by 2024.
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Itochu partners with Shell to lower its mining sites’ carbon footprint

Petrochemicals company Shell International and Tokyo-headquartered investment firm Itochu Corporation have agreed to collaborate to accelerate the digitalisation and decarbonisation of Itochu’s mining sites, as well as increase the operational efficiency thereof.

Shell will offer its sectoral expertise in decarbonisation and digitalisation pathways expertise to find solutions that meet the specific needs of Itochu, which manages a metals and minerals portfolio that includes mining sites across the world.

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Aligning energy transition with 1.5°C climate target will yield jobs windfall

An energy transition aligned with a 1.5°C-compatible climate pathway has net positive effects on job creation, a new report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) states. The full ‘World Energy Transitions Outlook’ document shows that under a scenario that limits the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels by the end of the century, jobs will exceed those created under a planned energy scenario, or PES, which reflects the current energy plans of governments.
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Union welcomes High Court’s decision to set aside ‘unlawful’ Econ Oil supply deal

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has welcomed the Gauteng High Court’s ruling to set aside the R8-billion tender between power utility Eskom and oil blender Econ Oil after the matter was heard on June 9.

The court on June 29 found that the contract was unlawful.

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Eskom’s debt below $28bn amid funding talks, Gordhan says

South African power utility Eskom Holdings has reduced its debt to less than R400-billion as discussions ensue to secure funding for a transition to renewable energy, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. The state-owned company announced in May it had reduced debt by a fifth to about R401-billion.
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First South African city readies to seek private power generation

Ethekwini, the South African municipality that includes the port city of Durban, plans to seek initial proposals for the construction of 400 MW of power generation. The so-called request for information will be the first by a South African municipal area since the government said last year that cities could buy electricity from providers other than Eskom Holdings, the State utility that’s subjected the country to intermittent outages for over a decade.
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Africa’s top emitter seeks $10bn for shift from coal

South African State power utility Eskom, Africa’s biggest greenhouse-gas emitter, is pitching a $10-billion plan to global lenders that would see it shut the vast majority of its coal-fired plants by 2050 and embrace renewable energy. Discussions have already started with development finance institutions like the World Bank and the African Development Bank, a senior Eskom official told Reuters.
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