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Renewable Energy News

What the fall in renewables costs means for energy systems and South Africa

11th June 2020 Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the fall in the costs of new wind and solar energy projects and what this means for electricity and energy systems, as well as what this is likely to mean for South Africa. →

Sun Exchange secures R50m, marks close of R67m Series A funding round

By: Schalk Burger 11th June 2020 Solar finance and leasing platform Sun Exchange on June 9 announced it had secured a R50-million ($3-million) investment from Mauritian private equity African Renewable Power Fund (ARPF), marking the close of a R67-million ($4-million) Series-A funding round. ARPF is advised by London-based... →

Investment managers bolster renewable energy project

By: Donna Slater 10th June 2020 Mergence Investment Managers and Third Way Investment Partners have invested R225-million each to refinance a major renewable energy plant in a remote area of South Africa, which cannot be named owing to confidentiality reasons. The renewable energy and infrastructure funds of both Mergence and... →

South Africa must rapidly implement measures to attract FDI − Leon

By: Simone Liedtke 10th June 2020 The South African economy finds itself on the edge of a fiscal cliff, especially as the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a “massive and rapid shock”, says law firm Herbert Smith Freehills partner and Africa co-chair Peter Leon. While the effects of the pandemic were initially localised to Asia,... →

Herbert Smith Freehills partner and Africa co-chair Peter Leon discusses the fiscal cliff edge that the South African economy finds itself on, and highlights some potential measures that can attract FDI into the country. Video: Creamer Media's Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Forum focusing on networking, opportunities for women in renewable energy space

By: Simone Liedtke 10th June 2020 While South Africa has forums and conferences specific to women in energy, WE Connect co-founder Karen De Bruyn laments that there is no platform specifically focused on connecting women in the renewable energy space. WE Connect was launched as a networking forum for women in this sector in South... →

WE Connect co-founder Karen De Bruyn

‘Remarkable’ rise in renewables value for money as costs continue to fall

By: Terence Creamer 10th June 2020 A narrow focus on the monetary value of yearly renewables investments is masking the “remarkable” improvement in value for money that has accompanied the sharp decline in solar photovoltaic (PV) and onshore wind costs since 2010. International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) senior analyst... →

Fair Cape launches yellow lid to mark renewable energy investment

By: Donna Slater 9th June 2020 Dairy products producer Fair Cape Dairies has launched a limited edition yellow-lidded EcoFresh milk bottle to commemorate the 254 155 kWh-worth of renewable energy produced at its facilities and used since October 2018. Since the Fair Cape solar switchover took place on October 24, 2018, all... →

Investec backs Pele Green Energy to expand in wind and solar

By: Bloomberg 9th June 2020 Pele Green Energy plans to expand its wind and solar projects in Africa after raising capital with the help of Investec, a South African and UK specialist bank. The first round of financing was arranged through a preference-share funding arrangement that will invest in project equity and working... →

No sign of slowdown in solar deflation – IEEFA

By: Terence Creamer 8th June 2020 Despite a sharp decline in costs over the past decade, there is no sign that solar photovoltaic (PV) deflation will slow anytime soon, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) director of energy finance research Tim Buckley asserts in a new research note. Double-digit annual... →

IEEFA director of energy finance research Tim Buckley

Thyssenkrupp increases electrolysis cells production capacity

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th June 2020 Technology group Thyssenkrupp has expanded its manufacturing capacities for electrolysis plants and can now produce electrolysis cells with a total power consumption of up to 1 GW a year. This is on the back of green hydrogen rising worldwide as an energy carrier and carbon dioxide... →

Scatec completes hybrid solar plant in South Sudan

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th June 2020 Independent solar power producer Scatec Solar has commissioned a combined solar and battery storage plant, in Malakal, South Sudan. The plant will power the Humanitarian Hub, which is managed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). →

Cogeneration next step in energy and heat supply

By: Theresa Bhowan 5th June 2020 Steam boilers supplier and services provider Steam Generation says clients are aiming to decarbonise their production processes by 2030 through cogeneration as part of integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into their operations. →

BOILING HOT Heat recovery systems that Steam Generation supplies minimise production losses, increase plant energy efficiency and save on boiler running costs

Accelerated renewables roll-out ‘one of the few substantial recovery opportunities’ open to South Africa

By: Terence Creamer 4th June 2020 The South African government is being urged to accelerate the implementation of its renewable-energy-heavy Integrated Resource Plan 2019 (IRP 2019) as part of the country’s post-Covid-19 economic recovery package. Meridian Economics MD Dr Grové Steyn, who is currently modelling the economic... →

Swedish clean energy tech ready for full scale commercial launch in South Africa

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 4th June 2020 A year ago, the first PWR BLOK from the Swedish clean technology company Swedish Stirling was commissioned at ferrochrome producer Afarak's Mogale site, in South Africa. The company is now ready to launch on a larger commercial scale in the country. →

Placing green stimulus at heart of South Africa’s postpandemic recovery would yield big co-benefits

By: Terence Creamer 4th June 2020 South Africa’s medium-term response to the Covid-19 pandemic provides a unique opportunity to reset the country’s unsustainable development pathway by fostering a “green recovery” that improves electricity and water security and creates jobs, Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies senior economist... →

Gaylor Montmasson-Clair

Responsible sourcing of critical minerals in focus as energy transition drives up demand

By: Terence Creamer 3rd June 2020 The accelerating pace and scale of the global clean-energy transition is poised to dramatically increase demand for critical energy minerals and metals, from aluminium to zirconium, with implications not only for the resources sector, but for geopolitics. The future energy system will be far more... →

Port facilitating green energy for South Africa

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd June 2020 As the only port with green status in the Southern African port system, Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Port of Ngqura has now established itself as a suitable partner in driving green energy development in the country. TNPA says the port has provided a safe gateway, temporary storage... →

Wind farm deliveries

Replacing world’s costliest 500 GW of coal with solar and wind would shave $23bn off system costs

By: Terence Creamer 2nd June 2020 Replacing the costliest 500 GW of coal with solar photovoltaic and onshore wind would cut power system costs by up to $23-billion a year and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by around 1.8 gigatons, equivalent to 5% of total global CO2 emissions in 2019, a new report shows. The study also... →

Battery metals traceability project launched to enhance sustainability of industry

By: Donna Slater 2nd June 2020 Finland-based research, development and innovation organisation VTT says the success of electric vehicles (EVs) may be determined by production methods and information on the origins of battery materials in the future. VTT and the Geological Survey of Finland GTK, there, have launched a battery... →

SAPVIA says draft new generation regulations fall short of mark

By: Creamer Media Reporter 1st June 2020 The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) says draft amendments to the Electricity Regulations on New Generation Capacity enabling municipalities to develop or procure their own power generation fall short of addressing needs of either industry or municipalities. Mineral... →

New Africa-focused IPP venture emerges following buy-out

By: Terence Creamer 1st June 2020 A new Africa-focused renewables independent power producer (IPP) has been formed following a buy-out of Building Energy’s Africa and Middle East business by a joint venture comprising Building Energy’s management and Inspired Evolution’s Evolution II Fund. Rebranded Red Rocket and headquartered... →

10MW solar plant in Tororo, Uganda

R&D on hold to keep doors open

By: Tracy Hancock 29th May 2020 Stainless steel cylinder manufacturer Jooste Cylinder & Pump Company has implemented various measures, such as delaying research and development (R&D) projects, to assist staff as much as possible and “keep the doors open” amid the Covid-19 crisis. “Jooste re-invests much of its income in new... →

Loock to retire as Metair CEO

By: Marleny Arnoldi 28th May 2020 JSE-listed Metair has announced that its CEO Theo Loock has decided to take early retirement and will step down from the position, effective December 31 this year. He will also step down as chairperson and nonexecutive director of all local and international Metair subsidiaries and associated... →

Metair CEO Theo Loock

Juwi starts work on fourth hybrid renewable energy project in Australia

By: Marleny Arnoldi 28th May 2020 Juwi Renewable Energy has signed an agreement with Perth-based Contract Power to build the solar and wind power components of a new hybrid generation solution for the town of Esperance in, Western Australia. The hybrid project comprises a renewable energy hub, including a 4 MW solar farm and... →

Juwi Renewable Energy's hybrid project at Degrussa mine

Organisations say Covid-19 should not further delay universal access to energy

By: Marleny Arnoldi 28th May 2020 In a report, 'Tracking Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7): Energy Progress', international organisations have warned that universal access to energy by 2030 will fall short unless efforts are scaled up significantly. According to the authors − the International Energy Agency (IEA), the... →

Wind energy market set new installation record in 2019 with 63 GW added

By: Donna Slater 27th May 2020 According to its second edition of its annual 'Supply Side Analysis 2019' report, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) reports that in 2019 a new supply side record, in terms of capacity for the wind energy industry, was set, with 22 893 wind turbines being installed internationally. These wind... →

Pandemic-induced slump in global energy investment risks locking in obsolete technologies

By: Terence Creamer 27th May 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has set in motion the largest drop in global energy investment in history, with spending expected to plunge by $400-billion in 2020, a new International Energy Agency (IEA) report shows. Describing the slump as “unparalleled” and “staggering” in both scale and swiftness, the... →

IEA executive director Dr Fatih Birol

Bid documents for 2 000-MW emergency power being finalised after Nersa concurrence ‘milestone’

By: Terence Creamer 26th May 2020 The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) confirmed on Tuesday that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) had concurred with a Ministerial determination submitted to the regulator in February for the procurement of 2 000 MW of emergency electricity from independent... →

IPP Office working on scheme to procure 128 MW of additional energy from existing wind and solar farms

SANEDI says clean energy could boost country’s Covid-19 economic stimulus plan

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th May 2020 Government organisation, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) says clean energy principles and technologies should form part of the country’s post Covid-19 economic stimulus plan. This will help to ensure the country stays on target to achieve national environmental... →

Nigerian govt seeks EPC contractor for Kumbotso power plant project

By: Simone Liedtke 26th May 2020 The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) is seeking the services of an engineering and construction firm to facilitate the realisation of a 10 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Kumbotso, Nigeria. The project will involve the design, engineering, procurement,... →

Electrolux South Africa partners with PowerOptimal to sell solar geyser solution

By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th May 2020 Energy solutions developer PowerOptimal has partnered with the South African subsidiary of Swedish appliance giant Electrolux to help bring cost-effective and sustainable solar photovoltaic (PV) water heating solutions to the local market. The partnership will see PowerOptimal’s Elon solar PV... →

Cape Town proposes national renewables procurement scheme for municipalities as it pushes ahead with IPP legal case

By: Terence Creamer 26th May 2020 The City of Cape Town is proposing the creation of a nationally coordinated renewable-energy procurement programme through which municipalities are empowered to procure electricity from independent power producers (IPPs). The City has adopted this position notwithstanding its long-running legal... →

Renewables associations call for green hydrogen focus in upcoming EU plans

By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th May 2020 Ten solar and wind associations, along with industry leaders, have launched a joint initiative − Choose Renewable Hydrogen − and are calling for the European Commission to prioritise renewable green hydrogen in its upcoming recovery and strategy decisions. The initiative aims to highlight the... →

Hulisani expects loss a share of at least 54c

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd May 2020 JSE-listed energy investment company Hulisani expects to report a loss a share of between 54c and 64c for the year ended February 29. This represents an 8% to 28% widening of the 50c a share loss reported for the financial year ended February 28, 2019. →

Why a giant hydropower dam in Africa worries the US, China

By: Bloomberg 22nd May 2020 China and the United Nations backed calls for Ethiopia to resume talks over its plan to begin filling a giant hydropower dam that is opposed by Egypt. Ethiopia wants to flood the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam when the next rainy season begins in July. Egypt insists on having a say in how... →

Report calls for new supply chains to decarbonise global energy trade

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd May 2020 Today’s global economy is enabled by a global energy trade and countries around the world are dependent on the flows of oil, coal and natural gas to keep their economies growing. As countries move to decarbonise and adopt renewable energy, many are finding it difficult to do so cost-effectively... →

Auto-battery makers mull alternative chemistries to lower costs, increase driving range

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd May 2020 Battery makers and car manufacturers have seen a shift in the pursuit of altering battery chemistry to lower the costs of new energy vehicles (NEVs) that are being manufactured and extend their driving range. Speaking to Engineering News & Mining Weekly, independent research house Afriforesight... →

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