Posts

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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Genuine progress, not electioneering, behind the easing of loadshedding, council says

The current loadshedding reprieve is not a result of excessive diesel burning to pacify voters but rather a consequence of government and business coming together to made headway in solving South Africa’s electricity crisis, Energy Council of South Africa (ECSA) CEO James Mackay has said. Sceptical South Africans have been speculating that the weeks-long halt in loadshedding was a ploy by the ruling party to obtain more votes ahead of the May 20 national elections.
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New clean cooking equipment factory opened in Paarl

Clean and renewable energy solutions company Ener-G-Africa (EGA) on Thursday officially opened its new biomass stove and cookware manufacturing facility, in the Western Cape province town of Paarl. The factory will produce two different types of stoves, and two different ranges of cooking pots. “Our factory is a stainless steel factory, using only South African manufactured stainless steel, which is world-class,” highlights EGA business development manager Dave Lello. “We have equipped it with the latest technology machines, including a fibre laser cutter, a range of presses, bending machines, and polishing machines, among others.”
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