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IEA report points to revival in nuclear interest

A new International Energy Agency (IEA) report argues that nuclear capacity could double to 870 GW by 2050 in light of renewed interest in the building of new nuclear plants, including small modular reactors (SMRs), as well as in extending the lifetimes of existing power stations. Nevertheless, the technology’s share of global electricity generation is still expected to remain below 10%, in light of expectations that even stronger electricity demand growth over the period will be met primarily by renewable energy.
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Coaltech, Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency partner to advance JET initiatives

Johannesburg-based research institute Coaltech has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency (MGCA) to support research and innovative solutions towards Just Energy Transition (JET) work in the province.

The organisations seek to unlock green economy opportunities, as well as to address the socioeconomic and environmental challenges associated with South Africa’s coal mining sector – including remediating and repurposing of land.

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Photon Energy to build 250 MW solar, thermal storage plant in KZN

European renewable-energy company Photon Energy has successfully secured 1 200 ha of land for a 250 MW concentrated solar PV plant with 150 MW (1.8 GWh or 12 hours) of thermal hydro storage to be built in Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, and has received favourable grid connection terms, thereby ensuring it can fully integrate its capacity into the grid. “This project represents a significant milestone for Photon Energy as we expand our footprint into South Africa,” says group CEO Georg Hotar.
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Mediclinic to roll out microgrids at its hospitals

Healthcare provider Mediclinic has solar PV panels installed at 28 of its sites across the country and is gearing up to roll out a national project aimed at installing microgrids that integrate battery systems with on-site renewable energy.  The company aims to be carbon neutral by 2030. In 2021, Mediclinic started working towards this goal by measuring, analysing and then reducing its reliance on fossil fuel energy supplies.
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Eskom’s hard-won recovery tested by cities owing billions

A turnaround in the finances of South Africa’s Eskom Holdings has won praise from investors but they are keeping their eyes on one issue — the company’s struggle to recoup about R95-billion in unpaid electricity bills from cities and towns across the country. It’s a debt pile that continues to mount as municipalities themselves fall behind in collecting revenue from customers. With 95.4-billion owed as of November, the arrears could jeopardise Eskom’s plans to spin off its distribution unit, a move that it says is key to boosting efficiency and securing investment.
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Regulatory barriers, limited charging networks stall EV progress despite tax incentive

Electric vehicle (EV) charging station company Zero Carbon Charge (Charge) has renewed calls for more policy support to address key barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption in South Africa, highlighting the need for sustainable charging infrastructure and regulatory reforms.

While Charge has welcomed recent government initiatives, such as the 150% tax incentive for electric- and hydrogen-powered vehicle manufacturers, the organisation stresses that these measures alone are insufficient to fast-track EV adoption.

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Battery minerals demand expected to outpace supply – McKinsey

Demand for battery raw materials will outpace base-case supply for certain materials, requiring additional investment and leading to fear of shortages and price volatility, among other challenges, strategy and management consulting company McKinsey projects. The fast-growing demand for batteries, for example from the automotive and energy sectors, has caused unprecedented levels of investment by raw materials producers and battery manufacturers.
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Municipal debt piles pressure on Eskom’s restructuring efforts

Billions of rand that South African municipalities owe Eskom are hindering the State-owned power utility’s plan to restructure and separate its distribution unit, according to chairperson Mteto Nyati. South Africa’s municipalities owed Eskom R95.4-billion by November as they struggle to collect revenue from customers and available funds are sometimes misappropriated after years of mismanagement.
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Opinion: Saving jobs by building powerlines – why the grid expansion matters for the local …

In this opinion article, Alboricah Rathupetsane of Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Sustainability Transitions argues that South Africa’s Transmission Development Plan presents an industrialisation opportunity.
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Namibia seeks investment in nuclear power from China

Namibia, one of the world’s largest uranium producers, is seeking investment from China in nuclear power to boost its role in the global push to clean energy.

“We want to add value to our uranium for the peaceful development of nuclear energy,” President Nangolo Mbumba said Monday during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is on a week-long visit to Africa.

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