Ramaphosa denies pre-election loadshedding respite is a ‘political ploy’

President Cyril Ramaphosa has entered the politically charged discussion on the reasons behind the recent dramatic reduction in loadshedding ahead of what is expected to be a highly competition election and amid allegations that the reprieve is being staged managed to improve the governing party’s prospects and will, thus, not be sustained. Writing in his weekly newsletter at a time which Eskom had refrained from implementing the unpopular rotational power cuts for a period of more than a month and a half, Ramaphosa denied that it was a “political ploy ahead of the elections”, while indicating that it was “too early to say that loadshedding has been brought to an end”.
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Michelin research shows how transporters can reduce total cost of ownership

Tyre manufacturer Michelin has launched its latest research focused on total cost of ownership, which is aimed at shifting the mindsets of South African transporters to run more efficient and sustainable fleets. The ‘2023 Decarbonising South Africa’s Transport Sector’ outlines that transport is the third-largest emitting sector in South Africa, with almost 55-million tonnes of CO2 emissions, contributing more than 10% to the country’s national gross emissions.
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Battery storage procurement faces some delays

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses South Africa’s approach to procuring battery storage, the delays that some of the battery storage bid windows face and the likely market reaction to these delays.
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Opinion: A symphony of solutions – South Africa’s tech-agnostic energy mix

In this article, renewable energy solutions provider Scatec sub-Saharan Africa project development VP Alberto Gambacorta writes about the need for South Africa to adopt a technology-agnostic and diversified approach to power generation.
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Big guns will speak at Enlit

Advisory and analytics firm Frost & Sullivan, a global strategy consulting and market intelligence firm with a long-standing presence in Africa will again be represented by its partner and Africa CEO Hendrik Malan at this year’s Enlit Africa 2024, which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from May 21 to 23.  For the past 24 years, Malan has dedicated himself to understanding the Africa region and its dynamics.
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Cooling company to highlight new concepts

After two successful webinars that unpacked the use of air-cooled condensers (ACC) for recoverable energy in power generation, thermal solutions specialist Industrial Water Cooling (IWC) aims to address future clients and investors at this year’s Enlit Africa 2024, which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from May 21 to 23. According to IWC the ACC technology, incorporating partial evaporative cooling, can play a transformative role in harnessing recoverable energy and using it for power generation.
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Organisers expect record attendance at event

With ballooning foot traffic, demonstrated by an increase in attendance of 81% from 2022 to 2023, the organisers of this year’s Enlit Africa anticipate a “bumper event that will be attended by global dignitaries and industry leaders”. The Enlit Africa 2024 will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from May 28 to 30.
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Cumulative effort to transform grids a hot topic

Of the 103 countries that in 2020 pledged to reduce global carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane emissions by at least 30%, 54 are African, says global technology giant Siemens South Africa CEO sub-Saharan Africa Sabine Dall’Omo. These countries have agreed to implement Nationally Determined Contributions and national adaptation plans underscoring their commitment to combating climate change.
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Firm highlights risks, challenges associated with solar expansion

With a surge in the adoption of residential and commercial solar power generation, global professional services firm Aon South Africa highlights that the expansion of the solar industry comes with considerable risks and challenges. Aon asserts that any solar installation poses a potential fire risk and emphasises the importance of ensuring that there is sufficient spacing from any combustible storage and roof underlay material, which must be confirmed as non-combustible. The firm adds that cabling should also be fire-resistant and located away from critical components where possible. The location of an installation is also crucial to allow fire brigades quick and safe access to the panels, ensuring that hydrant water pressure can reach the panels, especially when mounted on structures such as a roof.
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Deadline for latest battery procurement also extended as IPPs adjust to Eskom’s new grid …

The deadline for South Africa’s recently launched third battery energy storage bidding round, or bid window three (BW3), has been extended by three months to October 31, following a recent deadline extension for the concurrent second battery bidding round from April 30 to June 6. Independent Power Producer Office head Bernard Magoro indicated during a Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP) briefing that the BW3 extension had been granted on May 8, following requests from prospective bidders and amid ongoing congestion in securing grid-access cost estimate letters (CELs) from Eskom.
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