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Renewable Energy News

South Africa battles to fund vital grid upgrade for green energy

By: Reuters 12th August 2024 South Africa's plan to expand its power grid, now the biggest bottleneck to replacing coal with renewables, has hit a snag: finding investors to lend the necessary $21-billion to a near-bankrupt state monopoly. Since May's election brought a coalition government to power, there has been a policy... →

Woolworths to invest further R17.5m in renewable-energy projects

By: Schalk Burger 8th August 2024 Retail group Woolworths will make a further R17.5-million worth of investments in renewable-energy projects, which are projected to have a payback period of four to five years. The investment includes solar power installations of R10.5-million and a renewable-energy agreement of R7.3-million a... →

Opinion: Innovative financing and policy support accelerating renewable energy development in Africa

By: Creamer Media Reporter 8th August 2024 In this article, Africa GreenCo founder and CEO Ana Hajduka writes that, as Africa’s energy sector deregulates, exciting opportunities open up for financial innovation to benefit consumers and private-sector buyers and traders can mitigate default risk and provide certified green energy at lower... →

Africa GreenCo founder and CEO Ana Hajduka

Opinion: Transforming South Africa's manufacturing sector to embrace green and avoid falling behind

By: Creamer Media Reporter 8th August 2024 Transforming South Africa's manufacturing sector to embrace green practices is not just an environmental necessity but a strategic imperative to remain competitive on the global stage, writes Nedbank Commercial Banking national manager Amith Singh, adding that immediate action is needed to ensure... →

Nedbank Commercial Banking national manager Amith Singh

Powering Africa’s industrial future with Vertiv industrial solutions

7th August 2024 A recent industrial solutions focused webinar, hosted by global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions Vertiv, provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by, and the innovative solutions available to, the commercial and industrial sectors in Africa. Chaired... →

(From top left) Vertiv MD for Africa Wojtek Piorko, Collaboretix MD Nils Gerstle, Swakop Electrical CEO Jaco Duvenhage, and Vertiv Technical Director for Africa Jonathan Duncan

$613m in JET-IP grants have been allocated to projects, Presidency reports

By: Terence Creamer 7th August 2024 The Presidency has released new details showing that $613-million of the $821-million in grants pledged to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) have now been allocated to projects. The disclosure has been made in the second instalment of the online ‘JET Grants... →

Head of the Project Management Office in the Presidency Rudi Dicks

GoSolr concerned about rising electricity costs

By: Sabrina Jardim 7th August 2024 Although South Africa has experienced no loadshedding over the past three months, residential solar energy company GoSolr says the energy crisis is far from over, noting that rising electricity tariffs remain a challenge. During a presentation on the company’s second quarterly Light Paper,... →

GoSolr CEO and co-founder Andrew Middleton discusses the challenge of rising electricity costs (Video and editing: Shadwyn Dickinson)

Securing ringfenced revenue for NTCSA seen as key first step for tackling R390bn grid backlog

By: Terence Creamer 6th August 2024 Ringfencing revenue for the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) is regarded as a crucial short-term step for ensuring that the newly operationalised Eskom Holdings subsidiary is placed on a firmer financial footing to begin dealing with the estimated R390-billion grid... →

SAWEA concerned about Nersa rejecting Eskom’s grid allocation application

By: Marleny Arnoldi 6th August 2024 The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has expressed concern about the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) decision to reject Eskom’s application to reserve grid capacity for the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). While the... →

Growthpoint rolls out renewable energy wheeling scheme at ten properties

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th August 2024 JSE-listed real estate investment trust Growthpoint Properties has announced a new energy benefit scheme called e-CO2, which it will roll out at ten of its properties in Sandton. This marks a next step in the company’s rollout of its renewable energy transition and will involve providing green... →

Growthpoint's The Towers property, in Sandton

TNPA issues RFP for 3 MW solar plant for Port of East London

By: Schalk Burger 2nd August 2024 State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has published a request for proposals (RFP) for the development of a 3 MW solar power plant at the Port of East London. This forms part of TNPA’s Renewable Energy Purchase Programme to deploy about 100 MW across all eight South African... →

Scatec sells part of Kalkbult, Linde, Dreunberg plants to Stanlib subsidiary

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd August 2024 Renewable energy company Scatec on August 2 signed an agreement with Stanlib Infrastructure Fund II subsidiary, Greenstreet 1, to sell part of its ownership in the Kalkbult, Linde and Dreunberg solar power plants, with a total capacity of 190 MW, for a gross consideration of R921-million.... →

Kalkbult solar plant

Africa could see 3.3m new jobs across 12 green sectors by 2030 – report

By: Schalk Burger 2nd August 2024 An estimated 3.3-million new, direct jobs could be created across 12 green subsectors in Africa by 2030, a report published by staffing specialist company Shortlist and development agency FSD Africa, with analysis from consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has found. The 'Forecasting... →

Scatec sells stake in 8.5 MW Rwanda solar power plant to Fortis Green Fund

By: Schalk Burger 2nd August 2024 Renewable energy developer Scatec has sold its 54% equity stake in the the 8.5 MW solar power plant in Rwanda to Fortis Green Fund and Axian Energy Green for $1.38-million. Scatec has also exited from the operations, maintenance and asset management agreements for the power plant and has... →

Burgeoning renewable-energy industry presents legal considerations for stakeholders

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd August 2024 With renewable-energy demand set to continue to increase in South Africa in the coming years, industry players must be cognisant of how to manage risks and disputes in projects, and will also have to contend with unprecedented legal consequences that are emerging. This was highlighted by speakers... →

An image of A&O Shearman Projects counsel director Mongezi Dladla

A&O Shearman Projects counsel director Mongezi Dladla explains how renewable-energy projects are typically structured and financed; while A&O Shearman South Africa managing partner Gerhard Rudolph provides tangible examples of disputes experienced in renewable-energy projects in the country.

Zambia warns it may shut operation at its biggest dam by October

By: Bloomberg 2nd August 2024 Zambia’s State-owned power utility warned it may cease generating electricity at the Kariba dam by October because the nation’s worst drought yet is depleting water levels at the world’s largest artificial reservoir. Zesco is “working frantically” to avoid a shutdown at the Kariba complex, MD... →

Sizeable land crane being launched in Netherlands

By: Halima Frost 2nd August 2024 The behemoth SK6000 land crane being manufactured by heavy lifting and transport specialists Mammoet at its Westdorpe facility in the Netherlands will be launched later this month. The company says the SK6000 ring crane will “redefine modular construction methodologies” across the heavy lifting... →

The SK6000 land crane being developed by Mammoet in Netherlands make out of structural steel and painted Red

MAMMOTH MOVER The land crane being launched by Mammoet later this month will be able to lift higher and heavier components

Balancell expands plant tenfold, seeks govt backing for energy storage industry

By: Irma Venter 2nd August 2024 Energy storage company Balancell is moving into a new R80-million factory in Ndabeni, Cape Town, as the business gears up to grow its capacity roughly tenfold, says chief commercial officer Ian Pieters. The lithium ferro-phosphate battery assembler’s previous plant was limited to 250 MWh capacity... →

Red Rocket completes Brandvalley wind turbine installations

By: Schalk Burger 1st August 2024 Renewable energy power producer Red Rocket Energy has installed the 32 main turbines at the Brandvalley Wind Farm. All 32 Vestas V150-4.5MW wind turbines have been installed 17 months after construction started in 2023. This represents a major step towards reaching the commercial operations date,... →

Steel giant sees first demand ‘green shoots’ in years as GNU prioritises infrastructure and localisation

By: Terence Creamer 1st August 2024 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), which has been bemoaning weak domestic demand conditions for several years, reports that it is witnessing signs of “green shoots” in manufacturing and has also expressed cautious optimism over a potential for a recovery in energy-, construction-... →

Infrastructure refurbishment investment alone could provide R100bn/y manufacturing stimulus

By: Darren Parker 31st July 2024 South Africa’s decaying water, electricity and logistics infrastructure presents a R100-billion a year repair and refurbishment investment opportunity that could provide much-needed stimulus for the declining manufacturing sector, Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa COO... →

Infrastructure refurbishment investment alone could provide R100bn/y manufacturing stimulus

Construction of Nordex's Jeffreys Bay wind turbine concrete tower factory stimulating region

By: Schalk Burger 31st July 2024 Wind energy company Nordex Energy South Africa, which is building a new wind turbine concrete tower factory in Jeffreys Bay, says the ongoing construction is benefitting the region. “The construction of the plant is stimulating the local economy and fostering growth in the local supply chain... →

Gaia to raise $200m for Africa in Luxembourg climate fund

By: Bloomberg 31st July 2024 Gaia Fund Managers is raising $200-million for investment in African renewable energy plants and power grids with the assistance of Apex Group. The money will be raised through the Gaia Africa Climate Fund which will be domiciled in Luxembourg to allow US and European investors direct access.... →

Solar PV panels installed at a mining operation in South Africa

TotalEnergies acquires Scatec’s African hydropower portfolio

By: Sabrina Jardim 30th July 2024 Energy company TotalEnergies has signed an agreement with Norwegian renewable energy company Scatec to acquire its subsidiary SN Power, which holds interests in renewable hydropower projects in Africa through a joint venture with Norfund and British International Investment (BII). Through this... →

Enertrag helps the energyDRIVE team teach Mpumalanga learners about renewable energy

By: Schalk Burger 30th July 2024 Renewable energy development company Enertrag South Africa is a sponsor and participant of Phase 2 of the wind industry’s experiential renewable energy conversation across local schools in Mpumalanga through the energyDRIVE initiative. The company says it recognises the importance of engaging... →

Grid rules should favour shovel-ready projects whether public or private – Minister

By: Terence Creamer 29th July 2024 Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa indicates that he is in favour of grid-access rules that ensure as much new capacity is added as quickly as possible regardless of whether that new generation is procured through public or private processes. The Minister was responding to a... →

IRP2023 comments to be workshopped to ensure ‘credible’ outcome

By: Terence Creamer 29th July 2024 Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has committed not to dismiss the more than 4 000 public comments received in response to the draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 (IRP2023), the content of which has been heavily criticised. Instead, he has promised to host workshops with... →

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

Shoprite group rolls out electricity wheeling at a third site

By: Irma Venter 25th July 2024 The Shoprite retail group has started wheeling renewable electricity at its home office in Brackenfell, Cape Town, making it the company’s third site to implement this energy solution. Wheeling involves the buying and selling of electricity between private parties, using an existing grid to... →

Shoprite's Brackenfell site

South Africa’s 2030 decarbonisation target at risk, climate commission warns

By: Terence Creamer 25th July 2024 The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is cautioning that South Africa may miss its 2030 decarbonisation target in light of a decision to further delay the decommissioning of three aged coal power stations and if new clean sources are not introduced in line with the country’s electricity... →

Africa offers $193bn renewables opportunity, study shows

By: Bloomberg 25th July 2024 Sub-Saharan Africa offers a $193-billion opportunity to invest in renewable energy and transmission by 2031, with returns a multiple of those in Europe and the US, according to a new study. Utility-scale wind, solar, storage and transmission projects across a number of African countries may yield... →

Rows of solar PV panels at a South African project

Shoprite Group implementing electricity wheeling at Cape Town office

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 24th July 2024 Retailer the Shoprite Group is wheeling renewable electricity at its home office in Brackenfell, Cape Town, marking its third site to implement this energy solution. The retailer becomes one of the first businesses to wheel renewable electricity through the city’s energy grid, it highlights in a... →

Standard Bank backs 500-MW-worth of decentralised electricity projects post reforms

By: Terence Creamer 24th July 2024 Standard Bank reports that it has provided funding to South African decentralised electricity projects with a combined capacity of more than 500 MW over the past two years, following regulatory changes allowing such projects to proceed without a licence. Operation Vulindela, which oversaw the... →

Standard Bank head of power Rentia van Tonder

Panellists have mixed views on sustainability of renewable-energy financing

By: Marleny Arnoldi 24th July 2024 Independent power producer (IPP) developers are currently generating lower returns on renewable-energy projects at about 11%, making it challenging for banks and institutions to provide finance, said Thebe Investment Corporation power and infrastructure GM Johann Bester. He introduced this... →

Stable coal consumption expected through to 2025 as electricity demand surpasses renewables supply

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 24th July 2024 Despite the rapid expansion of renewable-energy generation capacity, the considerable growth of electricity demand in key economies indicates the world’s consumption of coal will stay largely stable this year and next, intergovernmental agency the International Energy Agency (IEA) says. Global... →

Photo by Bloomberg
Global coal demand is set to remain broadly unchanged both this year and in 2025

Port of Richards Bay moves to diversify beyond bulk exports while bolstering climate resilience

By: Terence Creamer 24th July 2024 The Port of Richards Bay, in KwaZulu-Natal, is progressing with planning for infrastructure and terminal investments aimed at consolidating its position as a bulk export hub for key minerals such as coal and chrome, while also diversifying its activities to include more containers, as well as the... →

The Port of Richards Bay, in KwaZulu-Natal

Eskom again moots 20 GW clean-energy build programme

By: Terence Creamer 23rd July 2024 Eskom will replace its declining coal capacity with clean-energy options in line with country policy and the Just Energy Transition, Eskom GM for primary energy Dan Mashigo told participants at a conference on coal and the energy transition. Speaking on behalf of Eskom CEO Dan Marokane, Mashigo... →

Energy Partners completes first solar facade skyscraper at Fairvest-owned property

By: Schalk Burger 23rd July 2024 Energy company Energy Partners has completed a project at property investment company Fairvest's Metalbox skyscraper in Auckland Park, Johannesburg. The property now features a building-integrated PV (BIPV) system that generates up to 300 MWh/y. It is South Africa's first solar facade skyscraper,... →

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