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Wind News

Windaba riding winds of digital change

By: Cameron Mackay 2nd October 2020 Owing to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and physical distancing regulations, the tenth yearly Windaba Conference and Exhibition will be hosted as a virtual event on October 26 and 27. The Windaba event brings together exhibitors, industry pioneers and leaders, investors, and power producers. →

Skills demand in wind sector met

By: Cameron Mackay 2nd October 2020 As more wind energy farms are constructed and contribute to employment, demand for the training and retraining of people to work on wind turbines will increase, which has consequently resulted in wind turbines safety training provider AID Renewables’ investing in improving its training processes... →

Software boosts company’s capability in wind energy

By: Cameron Mackay 2nd October 2020 Energy project solutions provider UL has released a beta version of its Wind Resource Assessment Platform (WRAP) software, after the company began development on the wind energy yield assessment software last year. Released to market in June this year, UL renewable energy VP Michael Brower says... →

NAVIGATING WINDY TIMES UL has been increasing its investment in digital solutions for wind energy for several years, as the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend

Wind farms in Northern, Western Cape head for completion

2nd October 2020 Two of major renewable power generation company Lekela Power’s wind farms will take major steps towards completion and to contributing 250 MW of energy to the national power grid before the end of the year. The Perdekraal East Wind Farm will add 110 MW to the grid. It is one of the company’s... →

Renewables in Africa – power is only half the story

2nd October 2020 Energy companies should combine the provision of power with positive economic impacts for the communities where they build their projects, says renewable power generation company Lekela Power CEO Chris Antonopoulos. Lekela’s portfolio includes more than 1 300 MW of wind power projects in Egypt,... →

Solar retains top jobs spot as renewables employment climbs to 11.5m

By: Terence Creamer 29th September 2020 Renewable-energy jobs rose to 11.5-million globally last year, from 11-million in 2018, with the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry retaining its leading position with 3.8-million jobs, a new study shows. The ‘Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2020’, published by the International Renewable... →

SAWEA welcomes gazetting of determination to procure more renewable energy

By: Donna Slater 28th September 2020 The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) welcomes Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s gazetted Section 34 Ministerial determination to procure more renewable energy from independent power producers (IPPs). SAWEA enthuses that this step takes the wind energy sector one... →

Transition to green energy needs to happen as soon as possible, says think tank

By: Donna Slater 25th September 2020 The transition from burning fossil fuels and the large-scale emitting of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases to renewable energies needs to happen as quickly as the industry can manage, independent financial think tank Carbon Tracker Initiative founder and executive chairperson Mark Campanale... →

Safety during wind turbine upgrades offered

25th September 2020 Specialist design and manufacturing company Power Curve ApS has forged a strategic partnership with working at height specialists Dangle Rope Access, to help deliver specialist installation services for wind turbine performance upgrades across the UK's wind farm sector. Announced in July, the... →

DANGLING IN THE WIND Dangle will offer rope access services to the upgrade and maintenance of UK's wind farms in partnership with Power Curve ApS

Ten lessons to guide South Africa’s ‘just transition’ from coal to renewables

By: Terence Creamer 23rd September 2020 A new study, which outlines global best practices for just-transition journeys, includes ten lessons for South Africa to consider as the country prepares to navigate what it hopes will be a just transition, over the coming decades, from an electricity sector based on coal to one based... →

Nersa says Eskom must be buyer of IPP power arising from new determination

By: Terence Creamer 22nd September 2020 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) says that Eskom should remain the buyer of the electricity produced by independent power producers (IPPs) and procured by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) in line with a new Section 34 Ministerial determination for 11 813... →

SAPVIA, SAWEA partner to assist local renewables project developers

By: Donna Slater 21st September 2020 Renewable energy lobby organisations the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) and the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) have joined forces with the Independent Power Producers Office, REEFSA and the Black Energy Professionals Association to launch the Developing... →

IPP Office says next renewables bid window by end Jan ‘latest’, but possibly before year-end

By: Terence Creamer 17th September 2020 The head of South Africa’s Independent Power Producer (IPP) Office, which performs the IPP procurement function on behalf of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), says discussions are under way with the department to finalise the roll-out plan for the Section 34 determination... →

Brand new 33 MW Western Cape wind farm connects to grid

By: Terence Creamer 16th September 2020 The 33 MW Excelsior Wind Energy Facility, in the Western Cape, has been connected to South Africa’s load-shedding-prone national grid, with all 13 of its wind turbines having been successfully commissioned. The facility is believed to be the first Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer... →

BioTherm Energy's 33 MW Excelsior Wind Energy Facility

Windaba to be hosted virtually, offer online business platform

By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th September 2020 The yearly Windaba conference will take place virtually this year on October 26 and 27. The renewable energy sector and its stakeholders will also gather on the Windaba 2020 Virtual Marketplace platform to unpack the role of the industry in the energy transition for the decade ahead. →

Renewable energy could be light at end of load-shedding tunnel, says SAWEA

By: Donna Slater 15th September 2020 Local wind energy lobby organisation the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) reports that, as South Africa continues to struggle with the crippling effects of prolonged load-shedding, recent indicators point to a “light at the end of the tunnel that is lit by renewable energy”. As... →

Renewable-energy masterplan process advancing

By: Creamer Media Reporter 11th September 2020 Work on the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM) is officially under way, with the first industry working group meeting having taken place on August 26. SAREM is one of 14 industry specific masterplans being developed under the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC’s)... →

Mantashe says Nersa’s concurrence with determination opens way for procurement of 11 813 MW of new power

By: Terence Creamer 10th September 2020 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe reported on Thursday the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) had provided its concurrence to a Section 34 Ministerial Determination, issued in February, which opened the way for the procurement of 11 813 MW of new electricity... →

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Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

Opinion: Wake up, the sun is shining

3rd September 2020 In this opinion piece, South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) chairperson Wido Schnabel writes that the country has everything it needs to not only work its way out of the recession that is coming, but to actually improve the situation for every individual and elevate the... →

Opinion: Can the private sector deliver government’s proposed infrastructure plan?

1st September 2020 In this opinion article, Vantage GreenX MD Alastair Campbell, who spent 25 years as an investment banker and who manages the R5-billion GreenX Debt Funds, says the renewables programme has proved that the private sector will invest in South African infrastructure once policy certainty is... →

Alastair Campbell

Etion Create selected as one of the preferred suppliers in the UK-based Sofia offshore wind farm project

By: Natasha Odendaal 26th August 2020 Advanced electronics equipment original design manufacturer Etion Create has secured a contract to supply its VF360 OpenVPX boards for the core computing units (CCUs) installed in the one of the world’s largest offshore wind farm projects. The Sofia offshore wind farm, 100% owned by German... →

Global wind body urges South Africa to explore ‘excellent’ offshore wind potential

By: Terence Creamer 21st August 2020 The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) says that, while South Africa has strong onshore wind potential, it would nevertheless encourage domestic policymakers to begin creating the framework for an offshore wind industry given the country’s “excellent” offshore wind-energy potential. The World Bank... →

South Africa's offshore wind resource

Noncarbon future epitomises ideal energy mix

By: Mamaili Mamaila 21st August 2020 In about 2060, the ideal energy mix would be one with only non-carbon sources, such as wind, solar, pumped hydro and hydrogen, says global energy advisory UL. →

JAMES TRUDEAU It is “very critical” that Eskom increases its energy storage capacities to support a more diversified energy portfolio

Microgrid solutions could combat load-shedding

By: Mamaili Mamaila 21st August 2020 Microgrid solutions with battery energy storage systems are ideal to ensure stable and sustainable power by harnessing solar and other renewable energy resources, says technology solutions provider Hitachi ABB Power Grids. →

GREEN ENERGY SOLUTIONS Hitachi ABB’s intelligent solutions for a more dynamic grid will also contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 of affordable, reliable and clean energy

Eskom fully supports South Africa’s lower-carbon trajectory

By: Mamaili Mamaila 21st August 2020 The Integrated Resource Plan 2019 (IRP 2019) signals an important move to a range of fuel options for power generation in South Africa, which State-owned power utility Eskom supports. →

PHASING IN THE GREEN Eskom proposes to continue adopting a phased and prioritised approach to achieve compliance to the Minimum Emission Standards regarding particulate matter

Report reveals minigrid benefits for Africa

By: Donna Slater 14th August 2020 Minigrid electricity developer industry association, the Africa Minigrids Developers Association (Amda), on August 13 launched its 'Benchmarking Africa’s Minigrids' report, which finds that minigrids outperform utilities in terms of affordability, with average installed costs of $733 a... →

Opinion: Unpacking pertinent questions related to municipalities procuring power from IPPs

14th August 2020 In this opinion piece, South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) CEO Ntombifuthu Ntuli writes about questions that need to be addressed as the regulatory environment becomes more conducive for municipalities to procure power directly from independent power producers (IPPs). Draft amendments... →

SAWEA CEO Ntombifuthi Ntuli

Sasol sets sights on large-scale renewables procurement as it pulls trigger on embedded generation projects

By: Terence Creamer 4th August 2020 Chemicals and energy group Sasol intends issuing, during its current financial year, a request for proposals (RFP) for wind and solar projects with a combined capacity of between 200 MW and 300 MW having received a strong response to a market-testing request for information (RFI) issued in May.... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Sasol's Secunda complex stands in the background with power lines in the foreground

Opinion: Could Eskom be repurposed to become training ground for the energy transition?

By: Tobias Bischof-Niemz 31st July 2020 One of the most common remedies proposed for addressing Eskom’s financial and operational problems is that of reducing jobs at the state-owned utility. The argument is premised on the view that Eskom is massively overstaffed and that its headcount should, thus, be reduced to help lower costs and... →

Creecy moves ahead with plan to declare coal and gold towns as renewables zones

By: Terence Creamer 21st July 2020 Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy has called for public comment on government’s intention to add three more Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZs) to the eight that have already been proclaimed for the purpose. Renewable-energy projects located within the boundaries... →

Mantashe agrees to creation of engagement forum with renewables stakeholders

By: Terence Creamer 16th July 2020 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe met with renewable-energy stakeholders on Thursday in an effort to build trust, improve communication and reduce obstacles to the roll-out of renewable energy in South Africa. The virtual meeting proceeded despite the fact that the Minister had... →

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

South Africa urged to recycle more of its copper scrap

By: Donna Slater 10th July 2020 Given limited domestic copper production, South Africa should prioritise the recycling of copper scrap to ensure there remains sufficient stock as the economy changes to be more energy efficient and less reliant on fossil fuels, Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA) executive chairperson... →

Shift from high- to low-carbon must be systematic and just – Mantashe

By: Terence Creamer 9th July 2020 South Africa’s Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, used the platform created by the International Energy Agency (IEA) Clean Energy Transitions Summit on July 9 to stress that South Africa’s shift from a high-carbon to a low-carbon path needed to be both systematic and just.... →

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

Clean energy should be at ‘core’ of Covid-19 stimulus plans – Guterres

By: Terence Creamer 9th July 2020 United Nations secretary-general António Guterres appealed to governments on Thursday to place the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy at the “core” of their Covid-19 economic recovery spending. Guterres also used the platform created by the International Energy Agency (IEA) Clean Energy... →

United Nations secretary-general António Guterres

African countries urged to allocate 25% of stimulus spending to renewable energy

By: Terence Creamer 8th July 2020 African countries should aim to invest 25% of their Covid-19 stimulus budgets in renewable energy, Sustainable Energy for All CEO Damilola Ogunbiyi said on Wednesday, noting that renewable energy had emerged as the cheapest source of new electricity for most countries on the continent. Speaking... →

Nersa to provide concurrence on technology-specific determination this month

By: Terence Creamer 2nd July 2020 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa indicated on Thursday that it intended providing concurrence this month for a Ministerial determination that would open the way for the procurement of new electricity generation capacity in line with allocations contained in the 2019 edition of the... →

Economic opportunity of South Africa’s energy transition akin to new ‘gold rush’

By: Terence Creamer 30th June 2020 South Africa’s energy transition from coal to cleaner energy carries an economic opportunity equivalent to the discovery of gold in the country more than a century ago, a new South African National Energy Association (Sanea) report argues. Published on June 30, the ‘South African Energy Risk... →

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