Electricity | Renewable Energy

https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Advertise on this page? Click Here to Learn More

Renewable Energy News

Alien vegetation, biomass can produce electricity while saving water

By: Schalk Burger 13th August 2021 Biomass from offcuts from commercial plantations, including recycled orchards and vineyards, and cleared invasive, alien vegetation from river rehabilitation projects can be used as an alternative, clean heating solution, says biomass harvesting company African Biomass Company (ABC) founding... →

Mantashe publishes long-awaited amendments to the Electricity Regulation Act

By: Donna Slater 12th August 2021 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, in an August 12 Government Gazette, published the eagerly awaited amendments to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act to enable distributed generation plants of up to 100 MW to proceed without first obtaining a generation licence. To... →

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

Renewable energy sustainability bound to just transition and positive impacts

By: Schalk Burger 12th August 2021 The sustainability of renewable energy is linked to its long-term positive impact within host communities and close collaboration will help bring about a socially just transition to cleaner energy, says renewable independent power producer (IPP) Scatec sub-Saharan Africa GM Jan Fourie. He adds... →

Renewable energy sector sourcing specialist skills for long-term growth

By: Schalk Burger 11th August 2021 The renewable energy sector is preparing for the August 16 close of submissions for Bid Window 5 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), as well as the next two bidding rounds, by sourcing specialist skills to deliver on renewable energy projects, says... →

South Africa needs to commit to transitioning to net-zero by 2050 – report

By: Simone Liedtke 11th August 2021 As a country with one of the most emissions-intensive power sectors in the world, and as a nation that is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, South Africa needs to commit to find ways to transition to a net-zero emission economy by 2050, National Business Initiative (NBI)... →

Treasury publishes draft renewable energy premium rates

By: Donna Slater 11th August 2021 To allay uncertainties associated with the renewable energy (RE) premium rates of the Carbon Tax Act, the National Treasury has published a new draft RE Premium Notice, proposing the removal of the limitation of the tax period for which the RE premium rates would be applicable. The Carbon Tax... →

Polihali dam construction tender marks start of final water transfer component

By: Schalk Burger 10th August 2021 The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) says the Polihali dam construction tender process marks the start of the final construction phase of the water transfer component under the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and follows on the tender, issued in May, for the... →

Boikanyo Solar comes on line in the Northern Cape

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th August 2021 Boikanyo Solar, situated in the Siyancuma local municipality, close to Douglas, in the Northern Cape, started commercial operations earlier this year, having reached grid code compliance on April 9. This project, which took a year to build, is part of a portfolio of six projects owned by the same... →

An image of Boikanyo Solar's project in the Northern Cape

Solar panels

Absa completes R5.2bn debt refinancing for three Globeleq power plants

By: Schalk Burger 10th August 2021 Independent power producer Globeleq and financial services firm Absa have completed the senior debt refinancing of three of Globeleq's renewable energy power plants in South Africa, the companies said on August 10. The purpose of the refinancing is to enhance the projects’ capital structures,... →

Renewable-energy-focused entity launched to advance uptake in Africa

By: Simone Liedtke 6th August 2021 African Rainbow Energy and Power (Arep) and Absa have launched a new entity, called African Rainbow Energy – an “African-led, world-class, renewable-energy investment platform”. Arep will make an initial investment of assets covering wind, solar photovoltaic (PV) and biomass projects with an... →

LHDA calls for tenders for the construction of Polihali dam and appurtenant works

By: Natasha Odendaal 6th August 2021 The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has called for the submission of tenders for the construction of Polihali Dam and appurtenant works under phase 2 of the multibillion rand bi-national Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Interested and suitably qualified tenderers have until... →

Petrochem giant uses tech for greener fuel

By: Halima Frost 6th August 2021 In April JSE-listed synthetic fuels and chemicals company Sasol announced it will work alongside a consortium comprising multinational chemical company Linde, renewable energy company Enertrag and investment company Navitas Holdings to bid in concept for the production of sustainable aviation... →

COOL COLAB The collaboration between Sasol and the LEN Consortium will see greener jet fuel and chemicals being produced using Sasol's Fischer-Tropsch technology

Enel contributing to South Africa’s renewable energy industry, communities

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 5th August 2021 Renewable energy company Enel Green Power (EGP) South Africa is contributing to the country’s renewable energy industry, as well as undertaking various initiatives to uplift communities locally, speakers said during a virtual media roundtable hosted by the company on August 5. EGP has 12 wind and... →

Delaying emissions reduction will cost more down the line, climate commission director warns

By: Terence Creamer 5th August 2021 Presidential Climate Commission executive director Dr Crispian Olver says delaying South Africa’s transition away from coal will only add to the final adjustment costs and will also place the domestic business sector at a competitive disadvantage as other countries implement measures to restrict... →

Photo of coal mining in the foreground with an Eskom power station in the background

Photo by Creamer Media
Coal mining in the foreground with an Eskom power station in the background

South Africa's plans for COP26

5th August 2021 Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about what South Africa is aiming to achieve at the upcoming COP26 climate negotiations, what a just transition could look like for South Africa and the main risks to achieving a successful just energy transition. →

South Africa's plans for COP26

Business seeks to nudge localisation debate beyond import substitution

By: Terence Creamer 4th August 2021 Business is aiming to progress ongoing negotiations on the use of local-content regulations to revive manufacturing in South Africa beyond calls for blanket import substitution by identifying specific products or sectors where the country has the competitive advantages in place to increase... →

Battery Electric delivers on diesel machine conversion tech

4th August 2021 As investors place greater emphasis on carbon footprints, underground railway control systems manufacturer Battery Electric is ready to assist companies on their decarbonisation journey. Tracy Hancock tells us more. →

Image of Battery Electric diesel machine conversion tech

Battery Electric delivers on diesel machine conversion tech

From a coal-to-gas conversion to a microgrid factory, Eskom builds Komati’s just energy transaction case

By: Terence Creamer 3rd August 2021 State-owned electricity utility Eskom is hoping to transform the workshops at the Komati power station – identified as the flagship site for the piloting of a broader ‘just energy transition’ programme that couples decarbonisation with social upliftment – into a factory capable of manufacturing... →

A file photo of the Komati power station, which has generated electricity since 1961

Other procurement plans not affected by RMIPPPP deadline delay to end Sept – DMRE

By: Terence Creamer 2nd August 2021 The deadline for projects selected as preferred bids under the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) to reach commercial close has been extended to September 30, from an initial deadline of the end of July. However, the Department of Mineral Resources and... →

Photo by Creamer Media Chief Photographer Donna Slater
Minister Gwede Mantashe announced the initial end-July commercial-close deadline on March 18

Kibo forms working relationship with IGES to pursue South African waste-to-energy projects

By: Donna Slater 30th July 2021 Africa-focused energy company Kibo Energy has satisfied all conditions required, and completed an agreement with South Africa-based Industrial Green Energy Solutions (IGES), to jointly develop a portfolio of waste-to-energy projects in South Africa. The companies entered into an agreement to... →

Ramaphosa sees big green economy opportunity in ‘bold’ climate commitment

By: Terence Creamer 30th July 2021 President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is time for South Africa to “grasp the nettle” and embark on a “transformative path” towards a climate-resilient society both to fulfil its moral obligations in the face of an intensifying crisis, but also to seize the economic and job opportunities that are... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Nedbank suggests clients fund home solar PV systems through their home loans

By: Simone Liedtke 30th July 2021 Nedbank clients have the option to finance the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for their homes through their Nedbank home loan, the bank’s research, insights, retail and business banking executive Bruno Ching’andu has said. In a South African Photovoltaic Industry... →

Distributed generation funding model ideas will ‘evolve’, but regulation critical

By: Simone Liedtke 30th July 2021 New funding model ideas for distributed generation projects will evolve as the market expands, but Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) business development head Hugh Howarden has stressed the importance of government clarifying the requirements for the development and registration of such projects.... →

Use COP26 to position South Africa as destination of choice for rapid decarbonisation investment – Moosa

By: Terence Creamer 29th July 2021 Deputy chair of South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) Valli Moosa has presented an upbeat assessment of the country’s ability to position itself as a preferred global destination for foreign and domestic decarbonisation investment. Speaking during a hydrogen-focused webinar on... →

Photo of Presidential Climate Commission deputy chair Valli Moosa speaking during a green hydrogen webinar

Presidential Climate Commission deputy chair Valli Moosa speaks during a green hydrogen webinar

Conco Energy Solutions acquired by 51% black female owned company

By: Simone Liedtke 29th July 2021 Energy equipment and solutions provider Conco Energy Solutions has been acquired by wholly black-owned DLO Resources Group, which is headed up by 51% shareholder, founder and CEO Linda Mabhena-Olagunju. DLO is a renewable energy developer and strategic investor. →

SAPVIA calls for clarity on local content requirements

By: Creamer Media Reporter 28th July 2021 The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) is calling for immediate clarity from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) about its approach to localisation, specifically in the South African solar photovoltaic (PV) sector. The DTIC and the National Treasury have... →

An image of solar PV panels being installed

New framework needed to accommodate third-party electricity generators on the national grid

By: Donna Slater 28th July 2021 The wheeling and trading of electricity produced by third parties into the national grid is a complex issue that requires frameworks and grid capacity building, State-owned power utility retail pricing corporate specialist Shirley Salvoldi has said. She spoke during a webinar on the topic of... →

Creecy calls on rich countries to dramatically raise climate finance pledges from $100bn ‘floor’

By: Terence Creamer 27th July 2021 Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has called on the developed countries to ensure access to long-term, predictable and affordable climate finance for developing countries. Creecy participated in a July Climate Ministerial meeting hosted in London, in the UK, this... →

Photo of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy

Adopting a 1.5°C pathway could accelerate universal energy access in Africa

By: Terence Creamer 27th July 2021 Africa has a narrow window of opportunity to use its natural resource advantages and relatively low carbon emissions to attract the finance it needs to both accelerate a renewables-based energy transition that is supportive of a sub-1.5°C climate outcome and ensure universal energy access. This... →

Image of sun rising behind wind turbines

Fund lends €25m to Côte d’Ivoire clean energy hydropower project

By: Schalk Burger 27th July 2021 The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), owned by the Private Infrastructure Development Group, is lending €25-million over 18 years to Ivoire Hydro Energy (IHE), which will build a 44 MW hydroelectric plant on the Bandama river near the village of Singrobo, in Côte d’Ivoire. Financial... →

Sturdee Energy signs two PPAs for Botswana renewable energy projects

By: Schalk Burger 27th July 2021 Independent power producer Sturdee energy has entered into two power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) for two renewable energy IPP projects. The projects, located in Bobonong and Shakawe, will have an installed capacity of 3 MW and 1 MW, respectively. →

Zimplats plans 185 MW solar power plants

By: Reuters 26th July 2021 Impala Platinum Holdings Zimbabwe unit Zimplats plans to build two solar power plants with generation capacity of 185 MW to power its operations, the country's energy regulator said on Monday. The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority said Zimplats, the biggest platinum group metals producer in... →

FMF calls for accelerated gazetting of 100 MW distributed generation licensing-exemption threshold

By: Donna Slater 23rd July 2021 Independent nonprofit public benefit organisation the Free Market Foundation (FMF) is calling on government to accelerate the process of detailing and Gazetting President Cyril Ramaphosa’s June announcement about raising the threshold for companies to produce their own electricity without a... →

Micro-Grid Academy Young Talent awards recognise eight finalists for innovation

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd July 2021 The Micro-Grid Academy Young Talent of the Year 2021 Awards have named eight finalists from across Africa in recognition of their sustainable energy innovations. This yearly competition is backed by RES4Africa Foundation, Enel Green Power and the European Investment Bank (EIB). It encourages... →

More municipalities procuring their own power

23rd July 2021 Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the increasing number of big cities and medium-sized municipalities that are looking to either build or procure new electricity capacity. →

More municipalities procuring their own power

Platinum giants eye solar power as green answer to blackouts

By: Bloomberg 23rd July 2021 The world’s biggest platinum miners are ramping up plans to build renewable energy plants to free them from power outages that have plagued South Africa for more than a decade and to reduce their carbon footprint. Sibanye-Stillwater, the No. 1 platinum miner, Impala Platinum Holdings and Anglo... →

Hybrid solar installation completed in Zimbabwe

By: Halima Frost 23rd July 2021 The active partnership between South Africa-based solar solutions provider Blockpower SA and German-managed microgrid integrator Dhybrid has resulted in the completion of a 1.4 MWp, 1 MVA, 480 kWh hybrid solar system at an agriculture estate, in Zimbabwe. The Tanganda Tea Company, which operates... →

Large solar plant at an agriculture estate Zimbabwe

OFF GRID The hybrid solar installation installed by Blockpower SA and Dhybrid was tailor made for the client in Zimbabwe

Company Post

Download Our New Tools and Instruments Catalogue

more

About

Engineering News is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa
Polity

Newsletters

Sign up for our FREE daily email newsletter

Receive daily sector news alerts

More

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Engineering News is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options

Subscribe