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Kibo increases Mozambique land holding to expand energy projects

By: Donna Slater 12th May 2020 Africa-focused energy company Kibo Energy has acquired 345 ha of land adjacent to its Benga power plant project, in Mozambique's Tete province. Alongside hosting a 150 MW to 300 MW thermal power plant, which is being developed as part of a joint venture agreement with local energy company... →

South Africa urged to leverage the full industrial potential of the IRP 2019 as part of post-Covid recovery

By: Terence Creamer 12th May 2020 The allocation, in the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 (IRP 2019), to renewable energy represents a major opportunity not only to diversify South Africa’s coal-heavy electricity mix, but also to create new domestic industries and jobs, Kearney senior energy principal Prashaen Reddy argues. To fully... →

Kearney senior energy principal Prashaen Reddy in conversation with Terence Creamer on the outlook for renewables in South Africa. Editing: Nicholas Boyd

Best time ever for private sector participation in energy projects

By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th May 2020 With many African governments’ debt levels and servicing costs growing and economies taking hits from plummeting oil and mineral commodity prices, it will become increasingly necessary for private sector participation in infrastructure projects, particularly in the energy space. However,... →

Local energy not managed efficiently

By: Tracy Hancock 8th May 2020 South Africa is not using its world-class renewable energy resources to drive energy efficiency, says independent conservation organisation World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) urban futures project manager Louise Scholtz. “If we were, South Africa’s Integrated Resources Plan 2019... →

TRANSFORMATIVE DEVELOPMENTS The decreasing cost of renewable-energy technologies, such as rooftop solar photovoltaic, are one of the developments transforming South Africa’s energy market

South Africa has duty to address SADC energy efficiency

By: Tracy Hancock 8th May 2020 South Africa has a duty to make the energy efficiency knowledge accrued through the Industrial Energy Efficiency Project (IEEP) more accessible to the rest of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to help drive its economic development through globally competitive... →

ENERGY HEAVY South Africa’s industry consumes more than half of the energy used by the industrial sectors in all the remaining SADC States

DMRE to test market appetite for 2 500 MW of small nuclear reactors

By: Terence Creamer 7th May 2020 The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) told lawmakers on May 7 that the development of a roadmap for a 2 500 MW nuclear new build programme would commence soon and that the market would be tested for “robust funding options”. A request for information would be issued to assess... →

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

Full legal separation of Eskom divisions still years off, lawmakers hear

By: Terence Creamer 7th May 2020 Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter told lawmakers on May 6 that “good progress” had been made on the “divisionalisation”, under Eskom Holdings, of the utility’s generation, transmission and distribution businesses, with separate boards and MDs having been appointed for each unit. He also indicated,... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter

Ncondezi secures $5.5m C&I pipeline

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 6th May 2020 Aim-listed Ncondezi Energy has finalised a binding agreement with GridX Africa Development for a pipeline of solar and battery storage projects in the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector. Ncondezi and GridX have signed a binding relationship agreement under which Ncondezi has the right but not... →

Wind power likely a key building block for economic recovery

By: Donna Slater 6th May 2020 Wind energy representative organisation, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC,) along with signatories representing all the major international wind industry corporates and associations, reports that wind power is a key building block for economic recovery from the impact of Covid-19. In a... →

Mantashe seeks comment on draft regulations enabling municipalities to buy own power

By: Terence Creamer 6th May 2020 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has released, for public comment, draft amendments to the Electricity Regulations on New Generation Capacity that would enable municipalities “in good financial standing” to develop or procure their own power generation. In a statement,... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

Covid-19 likely to negatively impact PPAs as power prices drop

By: Donna Slater 5th May 2020 Data and analytics company GlobalData states that, with a decline in power consumption and a drop in electricity prices resulting from offices and manufacturing plants being temporarily shut in line the Covid-19 restrictions, existing power purchase agreements (PPA) may be negatively impacted.... →

Renewable energy law proves 20 years success

1st May 2020 Since the introduction of the German Renewable Energies Act (EEG), the share of renewable energy in gross power consumption in Germany has continually increased from 6.2% in 2000 to 42.1% in 2019. →

INEVITABLE POWER In Germany, regenerative energies are the number one power source

Energy uncertainty an opportunity for private sector

By: Theresa Bhowan 1st May 2020 Owing to power generation and energy supply uncertainty in South Africa, renewable-energy solutions provider Economic Development Solutions (EDS) believes that this creates opportunities for private-sector participation in energy supply. →

Photo by Bloomberg
RENEWED AND ENERGISED There are obstacles hampering the growth of the renewable-energy sector

Incentives needed to aid local energy tech

By: Mamaili Mamaila 1st May 2020 While there is an increased focus on local content across several South African industries, government could do more in terms of incentivising local manufacturing, says energy solutions company i-G3n co-founder and director Sydney Phakathi. →

NO FUSS WHATSOEVER i-G3n offers standard solutions that it can also tailor to suit the specific needs of every client

Water heating now a sustainable solution

By: Theresa Bhowan 1st May 2020 Power management technology supplier PowerOptimal manufactures products that are specifically designed to provide more sustainable energy solutions in South Africa. →

RICHARD FEARON The PowerOptimal Elon solar photovoltaic (PV) water heater allows for the direct connection of solar PV modules to a standard South African electric geyser

Lockdown highlights food supply importance

By: Darren Parker 1st May 2020 The Covid-19 outbreak and consequent measures taken by government to combat its spread have highlighted the importance of food supply, says motors and drives company SEW Eurodrive MD Raymond Obermeyer. “We will ensure that we reconsider the areas that we believe will benefit the agriculture... →

RAYMOND OBERMEYER Throughout the lockdown, SEW Eurodrive has continued to assist the agriculture sector as crucial link in the food supply chain.

Renewables to be only energy growth source in 2020 as markets experience ‘biggest shock since Second World War’

By: Terence Creamer 30th April 2020 Renewables will be the only energy source to experience growth in 2020, as Covid-19 lockdowns trigger a plunge in demand for all other energy sources amid what the International Energy Agency (IEA) is describing as the “biggest energy market shock since the Second World War”. A new IEA report,... →

IEA executive director Fatih Birol

Solar body calls for overhaul of distributed-generation rules in open letter to Ramaphosa

By: Terence Creamer 29th April 2020 The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa endorsing his call for the forging of a “new economy”, while also appealing for decisive policy and regulatory action to ensure that the country does not “return to the dark days of... →

Wido Schnabel

Pele secures funding for project pipeline

By: Donna Slater 28th April 2020 Black-owned energy and development company Pele Energy Group has raised new capital for growth and working capital through a unique preference share funding structure, leading to a long-term partnership with financial services provider Investec Bank. This structure has accounted for Pele’s full... →

Eskom says all repurposing options on table for Komati, Hendrina and Grootvlei

By: Terence Creamer 28th April 2020 State-owned power utility Eskom insists that all options are on the table as it considers proposals for the repurposing of three coal-fired power stations – Komati, Hendrina and Grootvlei – that are scheduled to cease producing electricity between 2022 and 2026. The utility issued an expression... →

Komati

Opinion: Why should SA’s post-Covid-19 stimulus incorporate a big green-energy component?

By: Tobias Bischof-Niemz 24th April 2020 Governments around the world are grappling with ways to reignite their economies and limit the duration of recessions precipitated by the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. South Africa is no different. Naturally, the first response of the South African authorities has been to direct limited... →

2019 set a record for renewable electricity generation in the UK

By: Rebecca Campbell 24th April 2020 In a report issued on April 9, the British Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) reported that, based on provisional figures, last year had been a record year for the production of electricity using renewable technologies in the UK. Renewable electricity generation last... →

LNG market sees increased clean energy demand

24th April 2020 Global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) increased by 12.5% to 359-million tonnes last year, which is a significant increase that bolsters LNG’s growing role in the transition to a lower carbon energy system. This is according to a LNG outlook report that was published by natural gas and... →

AN EVOLVING MARKET New spot-trading mechanisms and a wider variety of indices used for long-term contracts point towards LNG becoming an increasingly flexible commodity

GWEC launches Memorial Award in honour of late CEO Steve Sawyer

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd April 2020 On the occasion of Earth Day, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has launched a memorial award in honour of its late CEO Steve Sawyer. The REvolutionaries: The Steve Sawyer Memorial Award will honour Sawyer’s life mission to pioneer the global energy transition, recognising young leaders in... →

AUC, Irena to advance renewables in response to Covid-19

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 17th April 2020 Continental body, the African Union Commission (AUC), and intergovernmental agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), have agreed to work closely to advance renewable energy across the continent to bolster Africa’s response to Covid-19. The two organisations will focus on... →

Wind power capacity worldwide reaches 650.8 GW; coronavirus impact expected

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 17th April 2020 The overall capacity of all wind turbines installed worldwide by the end of 2019 reached 650.8 GW, according to statistics published by the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA). 59 667 MW of capacity was added in 2019, substantially more than the 50 252 MW of capacity added in 2018. →

M&R warns of impact of Covid-19 on full-year earnings

By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th April 2020 JSE-listed engineering and construction services group Murray & Roberts (M&R) continues to experience the impact on its projects from measures to contain the spread of Covid-19. In South Africa, the group is impacted by the extended lockdown period to end-April, and in Australasia and the... →

Company to introduce standby power system in South Africa

By: Halima Frost 17th April 2020 Subsequent to the successful launch of power management solutions provider Eaton Electric’s xStorage Home system in Europe, the company plans to formally introduce the system to the local market at this year’s Power & Electricity World Africa Expo 2020 (PEWA) in August. Although Eaton Electric... →

BATTER UP The battery on the xStorage system allows for power to be stored and harnessed for use when needed

Decarbonising of local power generation sedate

By: Tracy Hancock 17th April 2020 Decarbonising South Africa’s electricity generation is no longer a technical challenge, it is a political and economic issue, says University of Pretoria Graduate School of Technology Management professor David Walwyn. The Integrated Resource Plan 2019 (IRP 2019) forecasts that it will take... →

RENEWED PROJECTION The growing appeal of grid-tied and standalone rooftop solar systems may alter the Integrated Resource Plan’s 30-year projection for the decarbonising of South Africa’s electric power generation

Cleaner power demand boosts gas genset sales

17th April 2020 Stringent environmental regulations, declining gas prices and increasing demand for flexible transmission of renewable power have sparked a growing interest in gas-powered generator sets (gensets) in Europe, says market research company Frost & Sullivan. The firm reported in February, in... →

SWITCHED ON According to Frost & Sullivan a growing interest in gas-powered generator sets has been experienced in Europe

Power supplier targets datacentres

17th April 2020 In realising that providing uninterrupted electrical energy is the backbone of a datacentre’s infrastructure, global generator manufacturer Aksa Power Generation launched its power range targeted at the requirements of a datacentre earlier this year. The company suggests that companies need... →

DATACENTRIC Maintaining power is core to the successful running of data centres according to Aksa Power Generation

Generator company awarded second energy contract

By: Halima Frost 17th April 2020 Power solutions provider HIMOINSA Southern Africa was awarded a substantial power supply contract for an international pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, based in South Africa, which will be the second project of its kind in the pharmaceutical sector for the company this year. Awarded in... →

ENERGY SUPPLEMENT Pharmaceutical firms can power their manufacturing plant using Himoinsa’s rental options

Absa imposes strict new coal project financing criteria

By: Marleny Arnoldi 16th April 2020 Absa has published an updated sustainability policy and standard for financing coal, affirming the bank’s commitment to responsible financing and doing its bit towards mitigating climate change. The updated policy applies the Principles for Responsible Banking, which is the framework that... →

Debt funders appointed for 15 MW Kenya hydropower project

By: Terence Creamer 16th April 2020 Africa-focused independent power producer Tembo Power, of Mauritius, has announced the appointment of two senior debt financiers – the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) and Finnfund – for its 15 MW Kaptis hydropower project in Kenya. The $44-million run-of-river project is located near... →

Tembo Power has a portfolio of ten projects across Kenya, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Energy industry calls for more local content in energy supply chain to secure SA’s energy security

By: Simone Liedtke 14th April 2020 Wind tower producer GRI Towers South Africa has called on government to insist on more local content in the energy supply chain to ensure energy security for South Africa in line with anticipations of a changed global economic reality post Covid-19. According to GRI, government has achieved... →

Storage should aim to address cost reduction

10th April 2020 Ensuring that renewable energy is a useful asset to the grid and that the companies that own and operate it are profitable, while also producing less expensive energy, is a complex job. →

Association aims to address storage hybrid projects

10th April 2020 The South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea) has announced that it will be creating a discussion platform to support members and the broader renewable energy sector, by addressing questions that are emerging in relation to wind and storage hybrid projects. →

NTOMBIFUTHI NTULI There is a global wave of hybrid projects that use, among other things, wind and battery storage

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