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Solar Energy

Investment value of solar water heating increasing

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 17th January 2020 With the cost of electricity increasing, solar water heating systems manufacturer Uber Solar MD James Green says such systems for geysers are a good long-term investment for commercial use. “The payback on water heating conversions of geysers to solar is between 20 months to three years. With a... →

Solar streetlights cater for lighting requirements

17th January 2020 Lighting manufacturer BEKA Schréder’s locally designed and manufactured solar street lights for outdoor residential and public applications provide a full customisable option to suit all off-grid solar lighting requirements. BEKA Schréder marketing manager Grant Combrink says the BEKA Solar,... →

LIGHTEN UP The photovoltaic process is optimized by efficient polycrystalline solar module technology to maximise solar energy

Additional development zones for wind and solar PV

17th January 2020 The second phase of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy in South Africa proposes three additional Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZs) for wind and solar photovoltaic energy projects. The REDZs support the responsible implementation of... →

Solar viable amid power outages

17th January 2020 Power outages and policy uncertainty remain a continued threat to business and economic growth, and it remains to be seen how new State-owned power utility Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter can work with the government to stabilise the energy provider. One thing is certain, power will not be getting any... →

Company provides rooftop PV systems in S Africa

17th January 2020 Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems are extremely exposed and therefore especially vulnerable to damage caused by the direct and indirect results of lightning strikes. Since the PV system is directly connected to the electrical installation of the building, lightning strikes can have severe... →

Modules finalisation nearing completion

By: Halima Frost 25th January 2019 The South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (Saretec) has taken on the custodian role as the national renewable-energy-sector educator and hopes to have finalised all five occupational certificates of the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Qualification through its collaboration with Manufacturing,... →

HOME BASE Saretec is based at the Cape Peninsular University of Technology

Solar inverter available for water pumps

By: Halima Frost 25th January 2019 Obtaining water in rural and domestic environments from boreholes, ponds and dams is now easier, with technical solutions provider BMG’s Motoline P19000-S series of solar inverters for photovoltaic (PV) water pumps. The solar inverters are used to power pumps for agricultural irrigation and... →

EASY PEASY Solar inverters make rural irrigation systems easier to power

Solar streetlights installed at mine

By: Halima Frost 25th January 2019 Lighting manufacturer BEKA Schréder’s LEDlume-midi 36/55W luminaire, used in solar lighting solutions has been used at four intersections leading to iron-ore and manganese mine Assmang’s Black Rock mine, in the Northern Cape. “The intersections leading to the different sections of the mine have... →

ILLUMINATING The solar installation at the Black Rock mine has made the intersections leading to the mine more visible and safer

Investors will continue to invest in solar

By: Halima Frost 25th January 2019 Specialist banking company Investec Bank will continue to offer funding to viable projects in the renewables sector as solar photovoltaic (PV) technology becomes more cost effective. Southern Africa – more notably the Northern Cape province, in South Africa, and Namibia – is considered as one of... →

ANDRE WEPENER Asserts that South Africa’s recent reinvestment of power-generation projects are capital intensive

Improved film helps extend solar panel lifetime

By: Halima Frost 25th January 2019 With a focus on continuous innovation, science multinational DuPont is developing a new and improved clear Tedlar film to increase efficiency and the life of a solar panel well beyond the industry standard of 30 years. The Tedlar film is made of polyvinyl fluoride polymer – which is a more... →

CRACKING UNDER PRESSURE Solar panels are showing signs of deterioration sooner than anticipated owing to harsher environments

Microgrids using solar energy to meet energy demands

26th January 2018 Communities and producers in Africa are struggling with energy deficits caused by a lack of infrastructure access in some cases and poor energy quality and high-power costs in others, explains procurement and construction services provider Black & Veatch. As a result, Black & Veatch has... →

SOLAR SOLUTION Providing power through solar power projects is just one of many solutions that could grant electricity access to communities

Need for more energy increases demand for solar power

By: Victor Moolman 26th January 2018 With electricity demand in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region increasing, Stellenbosch University Faculty of Engineering’s Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies senior researcher Karin Kritzinger believes that solar water heaters can be one of the major... →

Photo by Duane Daws
WIDESPREAD POWER There are several solar farms across the member countries of the Southern African Development Community

Solar energy can reduce tariff hike strain on consumers

26th January 2018 With the ruling of the Constitutional Court having allowed power utility Eskom to retrospectively ask the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to claw back additional tariffs from consumers, solar energy equipment supplier Energy Partners Home Solutions believes that this could lead to... →

Three-year project reaches completion

By: Victor Moolman 26th January 2018 Technology solutions provider Jasco has completed its three-year solar farm project, which has reduced its maximum electricity demand by 27% and its reliance on State-owned power utility Eskom by 33%. “Phase 1 of the project – which started in April 2015 – resulted in the installation of 53 kWp... →

School installs solar system at boarding house

26th January 2018 The South African College High School (SACS), in Cape Town, made a commitment to clean energy by installing a solar system at its Rosedale Boarding House. The solar system was installed in November by Energy Partners Home Solutions, part of the PSG group of companies. SACS deputy headmaster Barry... →

Company supplies solar electricity system to NPO

27th January 2017 By way of its distribution partner and project implementer, Solek Innovations, high-tech solar power solutions manufacturer SolarWorld Africa supplied a solar electricity system to the Grootbos Foundation, in the Western Cape. SolarWorld donated the solar system while Solek provided a free of... →

Solar opportunities raised at exhibition

27th January 2017 After the success of Solar Africa 2015, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya, organiser of trade events Expogroup announced the return of Solar Africa 2017 from June 10 to 12. Expogroup highlights that one of the major challenges in the renewable energy... →

Solar LED light available in Southern Africa

By: Sascha Solomons 27th January 2017 To reach its goal of enlarging its footprint in Southern Africa, solar street light manufacturing and distribution company Solar Eco Systems Africa has made promotional magnets manufacturer Magnet Energy an exclusive distributor of its range of self-sustaining solar light-emitting diode (LED)... →

SOLAR LED STREET LIGHTING Solar Eco Systems Africa’s range of self-sustaining solar LED street lighting combine enhanced aesthetics and the latest PV and LED technology

Ongoing solar projects promote IPP success

By: Sascha Solomons 27th January 2017 Global private engineering and technology company Sener and its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partners, Emvelo and Cobra, are scheduled to complete the EPC of the 100 MW Ilanga solar thermal power plant near Upington, in the Northern Cape, at the end of 2018. The company... →

Sener’s Southern Africa regional MD Siyabonga Mbanjwa discusses the importance of solar energy, as well as current projects the company is working on.

Electronics company boasts unique PID inverter

By: Sascha Solomons 27th January 2017 Global electronics company Omron says the Omron KP100L photovoltaic (PV) inverter has the unique distinction of being the only potential induced degradation (PID) preventive inverter on the market. “The importance of this has been recognised in recent years, owing to the introduction of increased... →

ROSS ALLAN Many residential and business consumers aim to produce their own electricity and rely less on Eskom

Power supplier provides solar power for rural areas in South Africa

By: Malusi Mkhize 22nd January 2016 Renewable-energy products supplier Sinetech continues to provide its new line of Compact Solar Systems which provide electrification for off-grid locations including schools and hospitals rural areas. Officially launched in September last year the Compact Solar Systems are completely... →

Photo by Sinetech
OFF-GRID POWER SOLUTIONS Sinetech’s Compact Solar Systems provide primary and backup solar power solutions for rural, residential and business applications

DST identifies solar energy game changers through R&D projects

By: Malusi Mkhize 22nd January 2016 The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is funding two solar energy projects that are set to become game changers in the research and development (R&D) of solar solutions. →

Photo by Duane Daws
MMBONENI MUOFHE Solar solutions applications in households will continue to increase as electricity prices continue to rise

Solar power grid-tied systems yield energy cost efficiency

By: Malusi Mkhize 22nd January 2016 Using solar power as a grid-tied system rather than a load shedding intervention secures efficient, reliable and long-term energy-pricing, says solar PV solutions supplier Sola Future Energy FD Dom Chennells. “Effective solar systems provide 25 years of guaranteed power and, by tapping into that... →

Photo by Cumulus
ENERGY CERTAINTY Solar power helps to provide certainty over energy cost

Natural light solar lamps arrive in Africa

22nd January 2016 Global roof window manufacturer Velux Group has delivered the first natural light solar lamps to African countries Senegal, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The solar lamps were designed by Mariana Arando and Luca Fondello of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina as part of the Velux Natural Light... →

Photo by Bloomberg
LIGHTING UP AFRICA Natural light solar lamps to light up Africa

CSIR solar plant strives for 100% off-grid switch

By: Malusi Mkhize 22nd January 2016 The 558 kW ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar plant at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in Pretoria is fully operational with initial testing completed in 2015. The project, which began construction in June last year, forms part of the CSIR’s aim to run its Pretoria... →

Photo by Duane Daws
OFFGRID PROSPECTS CSIR’s Pretoria campus aims to go 100% offgrid through its new solar photovoltaic plant

Consulting firm wins LTA contract for NC solar projects

By: Dylan Stewart 22nd January 2016 Multidisciplinary consulting firm WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, Africa has been appointed as the lender’s technical advisor (LTA) for two Northern Cape-based solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, by local independent power developer BioTherm Energy, says WSP principal projects manager Dinesh Buldoo.... →

SMALL IN COMPARISON Konkoonsies I is 10 MW peak while Konkoonsies II will be 86 MW peak

Solar solutions provider develops direct solar heating solution for colder conditions

By: Malusi Mkhize 22nd January 2016 Local solar water heating solutions provider Solar Beam has provided the market with a patent low pressure direct and frost free solar water heating system capable of being installed anywhere in the country. Solar Beam founder and owner Graham Mundy tells Engineering News that the direct solar... →

Photo by Solar Beam
GOING DIRECT Solar Beam’s new direct solar water heating system functions in all weather conditions

New solar energy long-term rental solution launched

By: Mia Breytenbach 23rd January 2015 As part of its aim to become a renewable-energy utility, solar energy solutions provider SolarPlus Energy Investments has launched the SolarPlus residential long-term solution, a complete solar water heating (SWH) system installed free and provided at a fixed monthly subscription fee, says... →

MASS ADOPTION SolarPlus’s goal is to implement its systems at 200 000 homes within a ten-year period

R8m solar PV system launched at Gauteng mall

By: Mia Breytenbach 23rd January 2015 Property group Hyprop Investments launched a new solar photovoltaic (PV) system, valued at about R8-million, at its Clearwater Mall, in Gauteng, in December. “Clearwater Mall is the first property of Hyprop to which we applied a solar PV system of this magnitude,” comments Hyprop CEO Pieter... →

SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY The facility comprises 2 000 solar panels covering a surface area of 4 000 m2 and produces approximately 843 MWh/y

Solar PV industry experiencing positive response, market boost

By: Mia Breytenbach 23rd January 2015 Since power protection and management solutions provider Powermode forecast a significant demand increase for solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop solutions for local industry in August last year, the company registered “serious” growth in the solar PV market. “Powermode is witnessing a significant... →

Photo by Bloomberg
AGGRESSIVE TAKE-OFF Powermode’s average monthly installations have increased from about seven to more than 15 installations, for this month

Solar water heating and photovoltaic solution growth increase expected

By: Mia Breytenbach 23rd January 2015 Alternate energy products distributor Enerjetic expects a 30% to 35% increase in demand for the Nobel solar water heater (SWH) and Victron Energy photovoltaic (PV) solutions this year, as a result of unstable electricity supply significantly driving solar energy product demand. “While Enerjetic... →

POPULAR DEMAND The Victron EasySolar 1600 solution generates sufficient power to run the critical components of a home for up to 48 hours

REIPPPP solar facilities surpass predicted performance

By: Mia Breytenbach 23rd January 2015 The two solar photovoltaic (PV) energy facilities, in the Northern Cape, which form part of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), implemented by renewables developer and independent power producer BioTherm Energy, are exceeding their... →

Konkoonsies and Aries solar facilities are constructed in the Northern Cape.

Tech partners in resolving project issues

By: Mia Breytenbach 23rd January 2015 Common problems faced by local solar photovoltaic (PV) projects and Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) projects, such as technical and contractual issues, can easily be resolved through the assistance of technical advisory partners, states technical... →

Photo by Reuters
TECHNICAL NECESSITY Professional technical partners can provide advisory services for solar projects to reduce technical, quality and contractual issues

Solar industry nascent, should tap into localisation potential

By: Mia Breytenbach 23rd January 2015 Although there are a number of solar energy projects supplying State-owned power utility Eskom and the economy with energy, including a number still under implementation and development, the industry is still in an embryonic state, explains professional services firm KPMG. “We are certainly far... →

Photo by Bloomberg
UNTAPPED POTENTIAL There is significant scope to look at the localisation of the total solar supply chain

JA Solar strategy in Africa

24th January 2014 Solar PV power plants are designed to work at least 20 years. PV components’ reliability and suppliers’ sustainability are two key factors to secure investors’ profits, while PV modules’ high efficiency can help improve investment return. JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. is a world-leading... →

Photo by JA Solar
VINEYARD HOTEL AND SPA The hotel has made a commitment to “living green” and has implemented environmental and social responsible decision making

Zimbabwe leads with solar toll gates

24th January 2014 While South African taxpayers are crying foul at the government over its e-tolling scheme on the roads of Gauteng for failing to explore all funding options available to it, Zimbabwe raced ahead to lead the world with the first installation of 22 solar-powered tollgates last year, photovoltaic... →

Solar power transforms urban and rural life

By: Jonathan Rodin 24th January 2014 Lighting specialist Philips reports that it has achieved a “breakthrough” in developing its light-emitting diode (LED) solar-powered road, street and area lighting. “The LED lighting offers reliable, efficient and cost-effective lighting solutions for each kilometre of road. It has the potential... →

Solar energy beneficial to the commercial and industrial sector

By: Jonathan Rodin 24th January 2014 Turnkey energy solutions provider Green Habitat saved information technology and communications company Mustek R82 000 in July last year by installing a 210 kWp solar solution. The saving is as a result of the solar solution reducing Mustek’s energy and demand charge for the month, with a... →

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