CSIR encourages South African residents to take control
Energy experts at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have noted that South Africans can reduce their household energy costs and possible grid outages by installing energy efficient devices and appliances, while also implementing alternative energy strategies.
At a media briefing held in Pretoria on 28 March, CSIR principal researcher, Dr Jarrad Wright, along with his colleague, senior researcher Joanne Calitz, discussed a range of options available to reduce electricity usage in households, while also supplying household needs during load shedding or grid outages.
ESI Africa, 1 April 2019
Sanedi signs contract with SolarTurtle to develop next-gen solar kiosks
The South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi), the Department of Science and Technology and community empowerment solar photovoltaic product developer SolarTurtle have signed a contract to develop the next-generation SolarTurtle solar energy kiosk, called the BabyTurtle.
“This contract will see the design and implementation of three new solar kiosk designs of various portable sizes. They will all follow the SolarTurtle’s fold-away designs, but now our software will also be upgraded,” SolarTurtle CEO Lungelwa Tyali said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Engineering News, 2 April 2019
Ministerial approval for new Mozambique electricity law pending
Mozambique’s Council of Ministers is expected to review a new proposed electricity law during its next parliamentary session in July or August, law firm CGA chairperson Pedro Couto said on Wednesday.
He noted that the Mozambique government had concluded the necessary public consultation process in February.
Engineering News, 2 April 2019
Strong renewable energy capacity growth continues
The decade-long trend of strong growth in renewable energy capacity continued in 2018 with global additions of 171 GW, according to data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency this week.
The year-on-year increase of 7.9% was bolstered by new additions from solar and wind energy, which accounted for 84% of the growth.
Engineering News, 4 April 2019
Get Fit Zambia successfully awards six solar PV projects
Get Fit Zambia, which was designed to assist the Zambian government in the implementation of its Refit Strategy, on Friday announced that six solar photovoltaic (PV) independent power producer projects, totalling 120 MW, have been awarded.
Get Fit Zambia aims to procure 200 MW of renewable energy projects within the next three years.
Engineering News, 5 April 2019
Ncondezi, GridX start JV for solar, battery projects in Africa
Aim-listed Ncondezi Energy has entered into a term sheet with power developer GridX Africa Development, enabling the companies to enter into a joint venture (JV) that is focused on building and operating captive solar and battery storage solutions for the African commercial and industrial sector.
To this end, Ncondezi raised £1.88 million, or US$2.48 million, through a placing of around 280-million shares at 6.50p apiece, which will be used to pay a fee in two stages to GridX of US$390 000.
Engineering News, 5 April 2019
IPPs and distributed energy solutions drive innovation
While the obligation to deliver safe, reliable power to customers through ageing assets is paramount, utilities face a rapidly evolving market as independent power producers (IPPs) and distributed generation solutions drive innovation and investment, says engineering, procurement and construction services provider Black & Veatch sub-Saharan Africa regional manager Joseph Mahendran.
“Distributed energy resources like wind, solar and battery storage, supported by their increasing cost-competitiveness with fossil fuel generation and changes in policy and consumer demands, are forcing utilities as well as municipalities in Africa to find ways to produce, transmit and distribute electricity in a sustainable and efficient manner, or risk losing customers.”
Engineering News, 5 April 2019
Demand for utility-scale battery solutions increasing
Advancements in energy storage technology are starting to reflect in the rise of utility-scale battery solutions, which could revolutionise the ability of intermittent renewables to have higher penetration into the grid, says solar energy company SOLA Future Energy CEO Dr Dom Wills.
The company has been considering the use of batteries with increased charge speed, depth of discharge, and life span in its projects, as there are now more options for energy storage, and the costs are becoming cheaper.
Engineering News, 5 April 2019
Lucas calls Northern Cape Africa’s renewables hub as she inaugurates Kathu Solar Park
The Kathu Solar Park, in the Northern Cape, was inaugurated by the province’s Premier Sylvia Lucas, on Thursday. The project was commissioned in February.
The 100 MW concentrated solar power plant is 48.5%-owned by France multinational Engie. The balance is owned by various investors, including Investec, which contributed to the project's ZAR12 billion investment.
Engineering News, 4 April 2019
The above reflects a summary of certain news articles published during the preceding week.
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