Tribunal confirms settlement between commission, Aberdare Cables

The Competition Tribunal on October 14 confirmed a settlement agreement between the Competition Commission and cable manufacturer Aberdare Cables.

Under the terms of the settlement, Aberdare has admitted to price fixing, market allocation and collusive tendering in contravention of the Competition Act, between 2001 and 2010, but will not be paying an administrative penalty.

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SAPVIA joins forces with European solar association to realise opportunities

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) and the European association for solar SolarPower Europe has joined forces to unlock the potential of solar power and ensure that South Africa reaps the economic and societal benefits of renewable energy.

Both associations have been at the forefront of shaping the regulatory environment in their respective territories.

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78 MW Bokamoso solar park begins commercial operations

Another large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) project procured under the fourth bid window of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has entered into commercial operation. The fourth bid window eventually closed in 2018, following a four-year delay, precipitated by Eskom’s then refusal to enter into new power purchase agreements with projects procured by government under the REIPPPP.
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Renewable energy tool to assist household applications

Energy company Total and cloud computing company Google Cloud have pooled their expertise to jointly develop an innovative tool – Solar Mapper – which aims to accelerate the deployment of solar panels for individuals.

The business-to-consumer tool works by providing an accurate and rapid estimate of the solar energy potential of an individual’s home, and will be rolled out first in Europe and then worldwide.

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Solar ‘new king’ of electricity, but shift to net zero will require ‘unwavering efforts …

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has declared solar the “new king” of electricity, arguing that, while renewables technologies as a whole are poised for rapid growth over the coming several decades, solar will be “at the centre of this new constellation of electricity generation technologies”. The agency’s ‘World Energy Outlook 2020’ notes that, with sharp cost reductions over the past decade, solar photovoltaic (PV) is now consistently cheaper than new coal- or gas-fired power plants in most countries, while solar PV projects now offer some of the lowest cost electricity ever seen.
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Sasol tax break, subsidy support boosts pollution, group says

Sasol got a R8.1-billion profit boost last year thanks to the country’s fuel subsidies and its exemption from a South African carbon tax, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

In a report, the institute says that Sasol’s proprietary coal-to-fuel technology is a significant source of greenhouse gases from its Secunda plant yet it still benefits from government policy on emissions and fuel price regulation. The company’s biggest shareholder is the fund manager that oversees state worker pensions, the Public Investment Corporation.

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Eskom yet to decide next steps after Nersa publishes reasons for 2019 RCA decision

State-owned electricity utility Eskom says it is reviewing the detailed reasons for decision published by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), in which it outlines why the utility was granted a R13-billion regulatory clearing account (RCA) balance for the 2019 financial year instead of the R27-billion for which it had applied. On October 7, Nersa called for comment on the implementation plan for the liquidation of the R13-billion RCA amount, which could affect the electricity tariff increase scheduled for implementation on April 1, 2021.
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Growing determination for municipalities to build, procure own electricity

There is a growing determination among some municipalities to begin building and procuring their own electricity to reduce their dependence on Eskom. Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer unpacks the prospects in this regard.
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Opinion: Black-blade mitigation – a new and exciting mitigation for wind turbines to reduce …

In this opinion piece, ecologist, environmental consultant and conservation biologist Dr Rob Simmons writes about black blade mitigation can help wind farms to prevent thousands of bird deaths each year. The renewable energy industry promises green energy that comes with numerous benefits to the planet. Given that South Africa is blessed with abundant resources in both solar and wind, there is little reason for us to be so dependent on fossil fuels that continue to warm the planet. Indeed, South Africa contributes about half of the Africa’s total greenhouse-gas emissions, through the burning of dirty coal and other fossil fuels. This has given us a bad reputation as a major polluter and we are the fourteenth worst emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.
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De Ruyter: Benefits of Eskom maintenance to be felt by April 2021, but power cuts won’t be over

The effects of Eskom’s maintenance programme – which is expected to ease the risk of load-shedding- would be felt by April next year as the power utility works to ensure the long-term sustainability of its infrastructure, its CEO Andre de Ruyter said on Thursday. “We anticipate that by April next year we will see the first benefits of enhanced maintenance,” said De Ruyter, adding that by September 2021, the power utility would have significantly reduced the risk of load-shedding.
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