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Renewable Energy News

NCOP votes to pass Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill

By: Creamer Media Reporter 17th May 2024 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the significance of the National Council of Provinces' (NCOP's) vote to pass the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill; if the Bill is likely to face any opposition; and what further actions can be expected once the Bill becomes law. →

Today’s well-supplied market for critical minerals ‘may not be a good guide for future’

By: Terence Creamer 17th May 2024 A new International Energy Agency (IEA) report describes the sharp decline in critical mineral prices over the past year as a double-edged sword, cautioning that, while it has been a boon for clean energy deployment and affordability, it is a bane for critical mineral investment and... →

Investment in certain minerals, notably copper and lithium, is falling short of what was required for transition to net-zero energy system

Boiler rebuild to be delivered to biomass power station

17th May 2024 Flow control solutions developer Valmet announced in April that it would deliver a major boiler rebuild to the Steven’s Croft biomass power station in Lockerbie, Scotland in the UK, which is operated by energy infrastructure operator E.ON. The order is included in Valmet’s orders received in the... →

The Steven’s Croft biomass power station in Lockerbie, Scotland in the UK

POWERFUL REVAMP The boiler build being undertaken by Valmet for the Steven’s Croft biomass power station will increase efficiencies and output

Opinion: Time to open the floodgates on infrastructure development

16th May 2024 In this article, Stellenbosch University PhD student and Centre for Sustainability Transitions junior researcher Alboricah Rathupetsane writes about the impact of extreme weather events on South Africa's infrastructure and the need for increased investment in infrastructure development, as well... →

Alboricah Rathupetsane

Prescient supports Reatile’s acquisition of stake in 240 MW solar project

By: Creamer Media Reporter 16th May 2024 Prescient Investment Management has approved R324-million in equity finance to support black-owned investment company Reatile acquire a 31.5% stake in a 240 MW Free State solar PV project. The Virginia Solar Park project was selected as part of the sixth bid window of South Africa’s Renewable... →

Dipula reports improved metrics, hones in on solar

By: Sabrina Jardim 14th May 2024 JSE-listed real estate investment trust Dipula Income Fund has reported improved operational and financial metrics, as well as strategic gains in a period that marked the first phase of its new solar PV initiative roll-out for the six months ended February 29. Dipula’s revenue grew by 9% and its... →

Dipula Income Fund CEO Izak Peterson

EWSETA, partners to advance women in electrical, renewable energy fields in Limpopo

By: Sabrina Jardim 13th May 2024 The Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA), the US Agency for International Development (USAID) – in support of Power Africa, a US government-led partnership – and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) South Africa, launched Phase 2 of the Just Energy... →

EWSETA CEO Mpho Mookapele

Ramaphosa denies pre-election loadshedding respite is a ‘political ploy’

By: Terence Creamer 13th May 2024 President Cyril Ramaphosa has entered the politically charged discussion on the reasons behind the recent dramatic reduction in loadshedding ahead of what is expected to be a highly competition election and amid allegations that the reprieve is being staged managed to improve the governing... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Battery storage procurement faces some delays

By: Creamer Media Reporter 10th May 2024 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses South Africa's approach to procuring battery storage, the delays that some of the battery storage bid windows face and the likely market reaction to these delays. →

Battery storage procurement faces some delays

Opinion: A symphony of solutions – South Africa’s tech-agnostic energy mix

10th May 2024 In this article, renewable energy solutions provider Scatec sub-Saharan Africa project development VP Alberto Gambacorta writes about the need for South Africa to adopt a technology-agnostic and diversified approach to power generation. →

Big guns will speak at Enlit

By: Halima Frost 10th May 2024 Advisory and analytics firm Frost & Sullivan, a global strategy consulting and market intelligence firm with a long-standing presence in Africa will again be represented by its partner and Africa CEO Hendrik Malan at this year’s Enlit Africa 2024, which will be held at the Cape Town International... →

Gas cylinders in front of a gas transporting ship

NATURAL SELECTION The increased uptake if natural gas will be the talking point at a panel discussion held at this year’s Enlit Africa

Organisers expect record attendance at event

By: Halima Frost 10th May 2024 With ballooning foot traffic, demonstrated by an increase in attendance of 81% from 2022 to 2023, the organisers of this year’s Enlit Africa anticipate a “bumper event that will be attended by global dignitaries and industry leaders”. The Enlit Africa 2024 will be held at the Cape Town... →

A man standing on a podium at last years Enlit Africa Event

TAKING TO THE FUTURE This years Enlit Africa theme – Less Talk, More Action – aims to encourage attendees and speakers to move away from talk in favour of action and implementatio

Blue Energy, wheel maker ink green power deal

By: Irma Venter 10th May 2024 Local developer and operator of clean energy infrastructure Blue Energy Africa has signed a 20-year deal with Borbet South Africa (SA) for the procurement of power from renewable-energy sources. Founded in 1962 by Peter Wilhelm Borbet, the family-owned company has five locations in Germany, as... →

Firm highlights risks, challenges associated with solar expansion

By: Lumkile Nkomfe 10th May 2024 With a surge in the adoption of residential and commercial solar power generation, global professional services firm Aon South Africa highlights that the expansion of the solar industry comes with considerable risks and challenges. Aon asserts that any solar installation poses a potential fire... →

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES Aon stresses the need for the careful management of solar solutions

Cumulative effort to transform grids a hot topic

By: Halima Frost 10th May 2024 Of the 103 countries that in 2020 pledged to reduce global carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane emissions by at least 30%, 54 are African, says global technology giant Siemens South Africa CEO sub-Saharan Africa Sabine Dall’Omo. These countries have agreed to implement Nationally Determined... →

Siemens South Africa CEO sub-Saharan Africa Sabine Dall’Omo standing on a stage talking

SABINE DALL"OMO A panel – The Factors Determining Success in Transitioning to a Low-Carbon Future – will be sponsored by Siemens, and be led by Dall’Omo on May 22

Umoyilanga Avondale solar farm in Upington takes delivery of first modules

By: Marleny Arnoldi 9th May 2024 Global smart PV and energy storage solutions provider Trina Solar has started delivering modules to the 115 MW Umoyilanga Avondale solar project, in Upington, under a strategic partnership with two Chinese corporations. Trina’s partnership with China Energy International Group (CEIG) and China... →

Deadline for latest battery procurement also extended as IPPs adjust to Eskom’s new grid access rules

By: Terence Creamer 9th May 2024 The deadline for South Africa’s recently launched third battery energy storage bidding round, or bid window three (BW3), has been extended by three months to October 31, following a recent deadline extension for the concurrent second battery bidding round from April 30 to June 6. Independent... →

Genuine progress, not electioneering, behind the easing of loadshedding, council says

By: Darren Parker 9th May 2024 The current loadshedding reprieve is not a result of excessive diesel burning to pacify voters but rather a consequence of government and business coming together to made headway in solving South Africa’s electricity crisis, Energy Council of South Africa (ECSA) CEO James Mackay has said.... →

New clean cooking equipment factory opened in Paarl

By: Rebecca Campbell 9th May 2024 Clean and renewable energy solutions company Ener-G-Africa (EGA) on Thursday officially opened its new biomass stove and cookware manufacturing facility, in the Western Cape province town of Paarl. The factory will produce two different types of stoves, and two different ranges of cooking pots.... →

A Multi-Application Fuel Efficient Cookstove

More than 430 Cape Town households apply to sell their excess power

By: Irma Venter 9th May 2024 A total of 432 Cape Town households have applied to earn cash from selling their excess solar power to the city. These applications will now be assessed to determine their eligibility. →

Geordin Hill-Lewis

Equites starts wheeling power from distribution centre to head office in Cape Town

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th May 2024 Property developer Equites Property Fund has officially started wheeling renewable energy onto Cape Town’s grid from solar panels atop its newly built distribution centre in Parow. The company is among the first to begin wheeling energy for the municipal grid, with its current offtaker being a... →

Equites' distribution centre, in Parow

South Africa to provide new coal-plant closure timeline to secure secure $2.6bn

By: Bloomberg 8th May 2024 South Africa will provide a new timeline for the shutdown of coal-fired power plants in a bid to secure about $2.5-billion in climate finance, an agency in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office said. The timetable to be proposed to the Climate Investment Funds in June aims to ensure the country... →

Sappi signs PPA with trading platform to supply solar power to its South African operations

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th May 2024 Paper and packaging group Sappi has signed a milestone 175 GWh/y renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) with private electricity trading company Enpower Trading. Sappi is working towards attaining various science-based target objectives, with the renewable energy solution aimed at... →

Renewables provided record 30% of global electricity in 2023, Ember says

By: Reuters 8th May 2024 Growth in solar and wind power pushed renewable generation to a record 30% of global electricity production in 2023, putting a global target to triple renewable capacity by 2030 within sight, a report by think tank Ember said. Cutting fossil fuel use and emissions in the power sector is seen as... →

A graph showing the share of hydropower, solar and wind electricity generation growth

South African company comes second in Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy competition

By: Sabrina Jardim 7th May 2024 The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation have announced Aftrak and Omnivat as winners of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy – a $2-million innovation competition to reward entrepreneurs working to expand access to reliable, affordable and sustainable offgrid electricity in Africa.... →

Photo by The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program
Winners of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy, Dr. Carl Telford and Dr. Jonathan Wilson from Aftrak, and Runner-Up Winners, Randy Kabuya and Deney van Rooyen from Omnivat, pictured with Dr. Patrice Motsepe (left), Mike Milken and Dr. Emily Musil Church (right) at the Milken Institute Global Conference

NamPower grid-strengthening and battery storage project secures $138.5m World Bank backing

By: Terence Creamer 7th May 2024 The World Bank has approved a $138.5-million finance package to support the integration of renewable energy into Namibia’s electricity system by strengthening its transmission grid and integrating a second utility scale battery storage system into the country’s network. The initiative, which is... →

Ramokgopa insists loadshedding not being ‘stage managed’ ahead of May 29 poll

By: Terence Creamer 6th May 2024 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa denies that the prevailing reprieve from loadshedding has been “stage managed” to improve the prospects of the governing African National Congress ahead of the May 29 poll, attributing it instead to “orchestrated” engineering efforts undertaken by Eskom... →

Minister insists the recent period of no loadshedding is down to the improved performance of coal stations such as Matla (pictured)

Photo by Creamer Media
Minister insists the recent period of no loadshedding is down to the improved performance of coal stations such as Matla (pictured)

Climate commission model points to the growth potential of green industrialisation

By: Terence Creamer 6th May 2024 The initial direct cost of placing South Africa on an energy transition pathway over the coming five years in line with its decarbonisation targets is calculated at a hefty R1.5-trillion in the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP). Less visible, however, are the socioeconomic costs... →

Wind energy critical to bolster energy capacity – SAWEA

By: Sabrina Jardim 3rd May 2024 Despite recent efforts to bolster electricity generation capacity, the path to energy security remains full of obstacles. The integration of renewable energy, particularly wind power, is critical to these efforts, says the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA). →

SAWEA CEO Niveshen Govender

Pioneer solution converts paper sludge, food and textile waste into bioethanol

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 3rd May 2024 A pioneering solution has been developed to convert cellulose fibre-rich waste from pulp and paper mill operations into ethanol using a specialised fermentation process. The solution was announced by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa), in collaboration with Stellenbosch... →

WBHO completes two solar plants, impactful community initiatives in Lichtenburg

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd May 2024 Construction group Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) and renewable energy company Sola Group have completed construction of the Merak 2 & 3 solar photovoltaic projects near Lichtenburg, in North West. The two solar plants, with capacities of 130 MW and 126 MW, respectively, span an area of 4 km2... →

WBHO and Sola Group's Merak 2 & 3 solar plants

New Mulilo CEO says South Africa’s renewables, storage markets poised for exponential growth

By: Terence Creamer 2nd May 2024 Independent power producer Mulilo reports that Jan Fourie has officially assumed the role of CEO, where he will oversee the company’s growth ambitions in South Africa’s public-procurement and private-offtake markets for both renewable energy and battery storage. Fourie, who is an electrical... →

Mulilo chairperson Jan Oberholzer with new CEO Jan Fourie

AMSA to convert one Vanderbijlpark blast furnace to an electric arc furnace by 2028

By: Darren Parker 2nd May 2024 Steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) CEO Kobus Verster has confirmed that the company will be converting one of its three blast furnaces into an electric arc furnace (EAF) within the next four years. The company currently has two blast furnaces in operation at its Vanderbijlpark facility.... →

In this video, AMSA CEO Kobus Verster tells Engineering News about the company's plans to decarbonise.

AMSA expects to break ground on Vanderbijlpark’s 200 MW solar plant this year

By: Darren Parker 2nd May 2024 Steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) is planning to start construction on a 200 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant at its Vanderbijlpark facility, in Gauteng, towards the end of the year, CEO Kobus Verster has told Engineering News. He explained that the installation would serve as... →

AMSA's Vanderbijl Park facility with open ground in the foreground

The ample open ground at AMSA's Vanderbijl Park facility will be used to build a 200 MW solar power plant

Motsepe-backed GoSolr plans $537m South Africa expansion

By: Bloomberg 2nd May 2024 GoSolr, a company backed by South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe and the continent’s biggest bank, plans to spend R10 billion to roll out a model of renting solar panels and batteries to homes in the nation plagued by blackouts. The two-and-a-half-year-old company seeks to install about 500... →

Patrice Motsepe

Clean energy critical minerals can transform sub-Saharan Africa – IMF

By: Schalk Burger 30th April 2024 Sub-Saharan Africa holds an estimated 30% of the world’s volume of proven critical mineral reserves and managing their use properly as part of the global transition to clean energy has the potential to transform the region, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) states in its ‘Regional Economic... →

Two BW6 solar projects with a combined capacity of 360 MW reach commercial close

By: Terence Creamer 30th April 2024 Two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects selected as preferred bids under Bid Window 6 (BW6) of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE’s) renewable energy procurement programme reached commercial close on April 30. The projects, which were part of a group of six PV projects to advance... →

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