The impact of smart charging for EVs
With many new EVs now out-performing their fossil-powered counterparts’ capabilities on the road, energy planners are looking to bring innovation to the garage — 95% of a car’s time is spent parked.
The result is that with careful planning and the right infrastructure in place, parked and plugged-in EVs could be the battery banks of the future, stabilising electric grids powered by wind and solar energy.
ESI Africa, 20 May 2019
Transport of wind turbine components for two projects under way
Turbine tower sections for the Kangnas Wind Farm and Perdekraal East Wind Farm are being transported from the Port of Saldanha Bay and from Atlantis to the project sites.
The two wind projects, which form part of Bid Window 4 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programmes, will be connected to the country’s national grid by August 2020.
Engineering News, 20 May 2019
SA Energy Minister’s decision on SSEG will drive investment, says SAPVIA
The decision by the Department of Energy to approve the deviation from the Integrated Resource Plan (2010-2030) is welcomed by SAPVIA and was received positively by the industry alike.
South African Energy Minister Jeff Radebe's instruction to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to commence with the licencing of small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) projects will facilitate further investment, particularly by local companies, asserts SAPVIA.
ESI Africa, 21 May 2019
Court date set for Cape Metro's bid to buy power directly from IPPs
The City of Cape Town on Tuesday welcomed the High Court in Pretoria setting a date for its petition to buy electricity directly from independent power producers (IPPs).
The City wants the Energy Minister and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to allow it to purchase power from IPPs. Under the current regime, the national power utility Eskom buys power from IPPs, which is then sold on.
Engineering News, 22 May 2019
Nersa to host workshop to clarify licensing process for small-scale power plants
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) says it will, in due course, host a stakeholder workshop in order to provide clarity on the processes it will follow, as well as the information it requires, in order to license small-scale embedded generators larger than 1 MW in size.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the regulator officially confirmed that it had received a letter from Energy Minister Jeff Radebe on 2 May, granting a deviation from the existing Integrated Resource Plan 2010-2030 for the licensing of generation facilities between 1 MW and 10 MW in size.
Engineering News, 22 May 2019
Nations falling short on meeting SDGs for 2030 on energy access
Despite significant progress in recent years, the world is falling short of meeting the global energy targets set in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030.
Ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 remains possible but will require more sustained efforts, particularly to reach some of the world’s poorest populations and to improve energy sustainability.
ESI Africa, 22 May 2019
Global energy investment stabilised above US$1.8tn in 2018
Global energy investment stabilised in 2018, ending three consecutive years of decline, as capital spending on oil, gas and coal supply bounced back.
However, investment stalled for energy efficiency and renewables, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest annual review.
ESI Africa, 22 May 2019
Register your solar PV system before 31 May 2019, warns City of Cape Town
The City of Cape Town encourages all home and business owners with rooftop solar photovoltaic installations to register both grid-tied and off-grid small-scale embedded generation systems.
In an effort to pre-empt national legislation, which will come into effect and require registration, the City has issued a notice requiring registration of solar PV units on or before 31 May 2019.
ESI Africa, 23 May 2019
Pioneering system holds huge potential for microgrids
A sharper focus on renewable energy has led to increased opportunities for microgrids in rural areas, industrial and commercial parks and residential developments in African countries.
“Technology is progressing very fast on alternative energies and systems. An increased focus on renewable energy is widening the playing field and opening up more opportunities for modern technology,” Siemens East Africa hub and Kenya country manager Johan Helberg told Engineering News Online in a recent interview.
Engineering News, 23 May 2019
Senegal imports turbines for West Africa's first big wind farm project
Senegal started importing turbines for its first large-scale wind farm on Thursday, the biggest such project in West Africa that will supply nearly a sixth of the country's power.
Privately-owned British renewable power company Lekela expects the wind farm, located in Taiba Ndiaye, about 100 km from the capital Dakar, to reach 158.7 MW by 2020.
Engineering News, 24 May 2019
Eaton – Utility industry challenges
Seydou Kane, Managing Director of Eaton Africa, a BBBEE Level 1 multinational power management company, looks at key challenges facing the utility industry with a particular focus on South Africa.
Aging infrastructure, dating power generation units, as well as a lack of skills, are a primary concern, Kane highlights.
ESI Africa, 24 May 2019
The above reflects a summary of certain news articles published during the preceding week.
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