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Electricity News

Genset failure can be dangerous

3rd December 2021 Generator set (genset) failure owing to a lack of proper maintenance poses a significant business risk, says fire safety company ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk. Backup power supply systems such as gensets are critical to reduce overall electricity demand during load-shedding. However, it is... →

Data protection critical during power cuts

By: Darren Parker 3rd December 2021 Although downtime and damage to electrical equipment are common concerns for businesses during load-shedding, many business owners do not sufficiently consider the protection of their data, information technology (IT) company Silver Moon IT manager Raeford Liebenberg tells Engineering News. When... →

A photo of Silver Moon IT manager Raeford Liebenberg

RAEFORD LIEBENBERG A backup strategy for your backup is more important than making sure your equipment stays on during load-shedding

More growth expected for diesel generators

By: Darren Parker 3rd December 2021 South Africa’s diesel generator market is expected to grow at a compound yearly growth rate of more than 2% from 2020 to 2025, according to a report released this year by research organisation Mordor Intelligence. Factors such as an increase in throughput of peaking plants and demand for... →

Photo by Adobe
DIESEL GENERATOR Diesel generators in South Africa are not generally used as a primary source of energy, but rather as a backup during power cuts or blackouts from the utility grid.

Business as usual despite genset demand spike

By: Darren Parker 3rd December 2021 Generator set (genset) manufacturer Atlas Copco Power Technique business development manager Philip du Plessis says the business is always prepared to try to close any sale that comes its way, regardless of factors influencing the market. “While we do see an increase in inquiries under these... →

A photo of an Atlas Copco QES genset being lowered by crane and guided by a worker in PPE

BACK-UP POWER These larger generators are supplied to larger enterprises because of the ongoing instability in the power grid

Eskom estimates Bedfordview electricity supply will be restored by Dec 4

By: Marleny Arnoldi 2nd December 2021 State-owned power utility Eskom is making progress with repairs to a damaged cable that caused electricity supply interruptions at the Bedfordview substation and expects to fully restore supply by December 4. Eskom reports that it has started working on the second joint, after successfully... →

Cable damage to main supply for Bedfordview

M&R expects to grow order book beyond R60bn level

By: Terence Creamer 2nd December 2021 JSE-listed engineering and construction group Murray & Roberts (M&R) expects to growth its order book beyond the current level of R60-billion on the back of growing demand for its services. “Over the next three years, the group expects most of its revenue to be generated by its two international... →

Eskom power transition lacking energy, says LTM Energy CEO

By: Tracy Hancock 2nd December 2021 State-owned power utility Eskom, South Africa’s largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, is not adapting to change fast enough, as the world races to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 by adopting greener energy solutions, says local energy services company LTM Energy CEO Dhevan Pillay. South... →

LTM Energy CEO Dhevan Pillay

Iberdrola, H2 Green Steel plan mega green hydrogen plant

By: Reuters 2nd December 2021 Global wind power group Iberdrola and Swedish startup H2 Green Steel plan to build a vast renewable hydrogen plant on the Iberian peninsula to power the production of iron used to make steel with drastically reduced carbon emissions. The European Union is pushing the development of a supply chain... →

Judge to rule next week on latest Eskom-Nersa legal wrangle

By: Terence Creamer 1st December 2021 Judge Jody Kollapen has reserved judgment in Eskom’s application to have the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) rejection of its latest revenue application set aside as irrational and unlawful. Following a virtual hearing on December 1, Kollapen indicated that he expected to... →

Illegal connections: About 700 Soweto homes in the dark after Eskom disconnects its power

By: News24Wire 1st December 2021 About 700 houses in Diepkloof Zone 3, Soweto, are in the dark after Eskom disconnected its power supply to the area. Eskom accused residents of illegally connecting electricity to their homes and disconnected them last week. Eskom Gauteng spokesperson Amanda Qithi said they disconnected power in... →

Eskom CEO sees end to crisis in shift from coal

By: Reuters 1st December 2021 South African state power utility Eskom sees an opportunity to emerge from years of crisis by shifting from coal-fired power generation towards natural gas and renewables, its chief executive told Reuters. Eskom has implemented power cuts for more than a decade in Africa's most industrialised... →

Faster-than-ever renewable electricity growth supports emergence of a new global energy economy

By: Simone Liedtke 1st December 2021 Stronger policies and raised climate goals leading into COP26 are driving renewables to new records, but faster deployment across all key sectors is needed to reach net zero, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says in a new report. It adds that the growth of the world’s capacity to generate... →

Tesla’s SA partner raising renewable energy’s profile in SA

1st December 2021 US automotive manufacturer Tesla’s South African partner, Rubicon Group brought the first Tesla Model X Performance Edition all-electric sports utility vehicle into the country to raise renewable energy’s profile in the country. Simone Liedtke, who saw a demonstration of the vehicle, tells us more. →

Tesla’s SA partner raising renewable energy’s profile in SA

Germiston-based DNG Energy receives first LNG shipment

By: Donna Slater 30th November 2021 Pan-African liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply network DNG Energy has received a shipment of LNG at its plant in Germiston, enabling the company to accelerate its pilot projects with its partners in the next few weeks. DNG Energy’s pilot projects aim to test the feasibility of using LNG as an... →

Eskom estimates it will take four or five days to restore power to Bedfordview following cable theft

By: Schalk Burger 30th November 2021 State-owned power utility Eskom on November 30 said an attempted cable theft incident has affected supply to the Bedfordview substation, which supplies the City of Ekurhuleni’s (CoE's) Bedfordview customers. Given the extent of the damage, it may take four to five days to restore supply. →

IFC, partners to build 100 MW solar plant in south-eastern DRC

By: Schalk Burger 30th November 2021 Development finance institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is providing $900 000 in funding for project development costs for an independent power producer (IPP) project in Kolwezi, in the south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project entails a 100 MW solar... →

PPC to invest R664m to 2025 to kick-start decarbonisation journey

By: Terence Creamer 29th November 2021 JSE-listed building materials group PPC has outlined a new decarbonisation strategy that includes firm targets for implementation by 2025 and 2030 and also outlines a long-term aspirational goal of transitioning its operations to net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050. The strategy is... →

PPC CEO Roland van Wijnen

Mainstream raises additional €90m

By: Schalk Burger 29th November 2021 Wind and solar power multinational Mainstream Renewable Power raised €90-million in additional funding to accelerate new market entries and the build-out of gigawatt-scale wind and solar assets across Latin America, Africa and the Asia Pacific region, the company said on November 29. The funding... →

South Africa seeks to end policy ambiguity delaying Eskom rescue

By: Bloomberg 29th November 2021 South Africa will soon agree on a comprehensive, unified approach to turning around Eskom Holdings, which is saddled with R402-billion in debt, according to the minister who oversees the state power utility. Eskom, which depends on coal for the bulk of its electricity generation, has subjected... →

Scatec signs agreement for 20 MW solar project in Lesotho

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th November 2021 Norway-based renewable power producer Scatec has entered into an agreement with the Lesotho Electricity Company and the government of Lesotho to build the first independent power producer (IPP) solar project in Lesotho. A related power purchase agreement (PPA), connection agreement and... →

Just transition, green hydrogen in focus again

26th November 2021 Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about President Cyril Ramaphosa's answers to sceptical questions from lawmakers in Parliament about the R131-billion just transition financing offer announced on the sidelines of COP 26, about what South Africa... →

Just transition, green hydrogen in focus again

Rigging qualifications awarded to youth

26th November 2021 Last month, Italian energy company Enel Green Power South Africa (EGP RSA) announced that it had decided to help 20 unemployed youngsters from the Raymond Mhlaba district in the Eastern Cape acquire basic rigging skills. Ten young men and ten young women completed a five-day course, which... →

A photo of Nxuba Wind Farm turbines at sunset with a South African flag attached to one of the turbines

NXUBA WIND FARM With Nxuba located in an isolated farm area, Enel aims to have a tangible impact on the lives of local community members

Energy efficiency should be prioritised as South Africa walks supply tightrope

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th November 2021 As the world looks to develop sustainable energy industries, mitigate the impacts of climate change and reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, energy efficiency has been emphasised as an integral part of the efforts to attain these objectives. Countries are falling well short of benchmarks,... →

South Africa won’t be ‘short-changed’ in climate finance talks, Ramaphosa insists

By: Terence Creamer 25th November 2021 President Cyril Ramaphosa says that government will not allow itself to be “short-changed” or lumped with conditions that will undermine its developmental objectives when negotiating the details of an $8.5-billion climate-finance package with developed countries over the coming months. Responding... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Green economy will drive inclusive economic growth, social upliftment – Nedbank

By: Schalk Burger 25th November 2021 Financial services company Nedbank on November 25 launched its revised corporate social investment (CSI) strategy, which will focus on the green economy elements of agriculture, water, energy and waste, in recognition that a green economy approach is a key enabler of economic growth, social... →

Probe Corporation, Sinetech prepares consolidated portfolio for solar market

By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th November 2021 Energy solutions companies Probe Corporation and Sinetech have joined forces to offer a complete range of solutions for the solar and broader renewable energy market. Probe acquired a 51% stake in Sinetech in October. →

Necsa advocates for further investment in nuclear power

By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th November 2021 The National Nuclear Regulator on November 23 and 24 hosted public hearings into the Thyspunt nuclear installation site licence application made by power utility Eskom, during which the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) highlighted its support for the installation. The corporation... →

Ramaphosa to chair inter-Ministerial committee to oversee R131bn just transition offer

By: Terence Creamer 25th November 2021 President Cyril Ramaphosa will chair an inter-Ministerial committee that is being established to coordinate further work on the country’s just transition plan, as well as the R131-billion climate-finance offer made to South Africa at the recent COP26 climate gathering. Following a briefing on the... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Array Technologies’ acquisition of STI Norland to aid expansion efforts

By: Schalk Burger 24th November 2021 US-based utility-scale solar tracker technology multinational Array Technologies has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Spain-based solar tracker manufacturer Soluciones Técnicas Integrales Norland (STI Norland) for about €570-million in cash and stock, which will help to accelerate... →

Study identifies green iron and bunker fuel as key initial domestic markets for green hydrogen

By: Terence Creamer 24th November 2021 Developing green hydrogen export capacity at the ports of Saldanha Bay and Ngqura would have decarbonisation spinoffs for nearby hard-to-abate sectors, a new Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) study shows. Produced as a follow-up to an earlier research report that assessed... →

Eskom failures leave South Africa set for years of power cuts

By: Bloomberg 24th November 2021 South Africa’s deepening energy crisis looks set to persist for at least two more years, with operational problems at the monolithic state power utility showing no signs of abating and plans to add new generation capacity ensnared in legal wrangling and red tape. The meltdown at Eskom Holdings,... →

Enel brings forward net-zero commitment by ten years

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 24th November 2021 Energy company Enel has brought forward its net-zero commitment by ten years, from 2050 to 2040, for direct and indirect emissions. The company has announced in its ‘2022 – 2024 Strategic Plan’ that it expects to mobilise investments of €210-billion between this year and 2030, of which... →

DFFE appointing independent expert to help rule on Karpowership appeal

By: News24Wire 23rd November 2021 The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment says it is appointing an "independent expert" to assist Minister Barbara Creecy in responding to an appeal by floating powership provider Karpowership SA. Karpowership SA, which falls under Turkey's Karadeniz Energy Group, was in March... →

Namibia may launch second green-hydrogen bidding process in early 2022

By: Terence Creamer 23rd November 2021 The Namibian government may release a second request for proposal (RFP) early next year for the development of another large-scale green-hydrogen complex, having announced a preferred bidder for the first such project in early November. Presidential Economic Adviser James Mnyupe told delegates to... →

Namibian President Hage Geingob

Minerals Council members could deliver up to 3 900 MW of supplementary electricity supply

By: Simone Liedtke 23rd November 2021 Minerals Council South Africa member companies could deliver up to 3 900 MW of renewable energy projects worth an estimated R60-billion, which, if built, would relieve pressure on State-owned power utility Eskom and go a long way towards meeting the industry’s commitment to achieve net-zero... →

South Africa graft ombudsman holds hearings in renewables probe

By: Bloomberg 23rd November 2021 South Africa’s graft ombudsman will hold a week of hearings as part of an investigation into the awarding of contracts to independent renewable power producers. The probe was established in 2019 after a complaint by a nongovernmental organisation that alleged “improper conduct and... →

Eskom’s biggest creditor sees barriers to debt-for-equity swap

By: Bloomberg 23rd November 2021 South Africa’s Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), the biggest investor in Eskom Holdings debt, said there were significant hurdles to a proposal that its bonds be converted to equity to help rescue the struggling power monopoly. The initiative, which has been backed by the country’s... →

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