Electrical equipment manufacturer WEG Africa has completed a large substation E-house solution, which includes distribution transformers and a diesel generator set, for energy and chemicals company Sasol’s Upstream production sharing agreement (PSA) project, in Mozambique. The E-house solution was procured by engineering, procurement and construction management contractor Wood, was locally designed and manufactured by WEG Africa and supplied in partnership with local engineering firm Proconics.
The latest edition of the South African Renewable Energy Grid Survey points to there being massive and growing interest from developers of solar PV, wind, battery and hybrid plants to connect to the South African grid. Published jointly by Eskom Holdings’ National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association and the South African Wind Energy Association, the survey shows there to be projects with a combined capacity of 133 GW at various stages of development across the country.
The Gauteng High Court’s rejection of a leave to appeal application by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) related to proposed municipal tariff hikes, is a victory for municipal electricity consumers, civil rights organisation AfriForum says. Earlier this year, the same court ruled in AfriForum’s favour, confirming that Nersa’s decision to consider municipalities’ applications for tariff hikes without the required cost-of-supply studies was unlawful.
The renewal of technology group Wärtsilä’s operations and maintenance (O&M) agreement with QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM), which is part of the Rio Tinto group, has been expanded to include a decarbonisation agreement. Wärtsilä says the agreement is a groundbreaking offering in the energy sector and allows for optimising all of the assets in the microgrid, including renewable-energy use, thereby not only reducing emissions but also producing notable cost savings.
The Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) has confirmed that 48 onshore wind and solar PV bids with a combined capacity of 10 218 MW have been submitted under Bid Window Seven (BW7) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The bids were submitted ahead of the August 15 deadline, which was postponed from an initial date of April 30, largely owing to grid-access-related delays.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the much-anticipated Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Act, which lays the legislative foundations for the establishment of a fully independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) in the coming five years. The ERA Bill was approved by lawmakers ahead of the May 29 elections and the President’s assent on August 16 has come amid some concern about the constitutionality of provisions that could affect the authority that municipalities currently have over electricity distribution.
Grid- and energy-optimisation software company Open Access Energy (OAE) has secured a $750 000 investment from technology innovations venture capital firm Factor E Ventures. The funding marks the initial tranche of a $1.5-million seed round for OAE, which is developing software solutions to address South Africa’s energy challenges.
Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has withdrawn a Ministerial determination for the procurement of 2 500 MW of new nuclear capacity, which was being contested legally, having concluded that there was insufficient public consultation prior to the regulator providing its concurrence with the determination. The withdrawal comes ahead of a scheduled court case initiated by the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, which are contesting the legality of the gazetted Section 34 determination signed by Ramokgopa.
Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses some of the key outcomes of the first meeting between Cabinet member and business leaders since the formation of the Government of National Unity.
Hydrogen and fuel cells solutions Center of Competence (CoC) HySA Infrastructure, at North-West University (NWU) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, is making a concerted effort to help South Africa and Africa transition towards a green economy by championing developments in water electrolysis for hydrogen production and storage, in addition to exploring the use of ammonium as a carrier for green hydrogen, particularly for long-distance transportation and storage. HySA Infrastructure CoC director Professor Dmitri Bessarabov highlights the importance of HySA’s most recent hydrogen and ammonium production projects, under the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS), aimed at facilitating hydrogen and ammonium production, storage and transport initiatives.
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