As from 1 January 2017 100% of Dutch electric trains are powered by wind energy. The Dutch railways company NS is the world’s first railway company that gets 100% of its energy from wind energy. Travelling by train has been the most environmentally friendly way of transportation for a long time already. In the Netherlands they have now taken it to the next level using wind … [Read more...]
City concludes embedded electricity generation contract
Today the City of Cape Town signed the first small-scale embedded electricity generation contract with Black River Park Investments, an office block in Observatory. They commend Black River Park for leading the way in the commercial real estate sector by utilising large-scale solar power systems to generate environmentally sustainable energy. Black River will be producing … [Read more...]
The Advanced Energy [R]evolution
South Africa can create around 150 000 new jobs in the energy sector in the next 20 years, and at the same time safeguard against catastrophic climate change - according to Greenpeace's new 'Advanced Energy [R]evolution' report. 'The Advanced Energy [R]evolution' is a detailed and practical blueprint for cutting carbon emissions, replacing fossil fuels and nuclear power with … [Read more...]
Minister’s ‘nuclear fleet’ statement greeted with alarm
Civil society groups are up in arms in response to the statement by Minister Dipuo Peters at the Investec Power Summit in Sandton on Tuesday, that South Africa could build 'a fleet of five or six nuclear power stations.' This is particularly alarming, given the recent release of an authoritative report by an eminent group of Russian scientists that concludes (based on … [Read more...]
Energy efficiency part 7 – how big is the gap?
'If you don't know where you're going, any road will lead you there.' This is as true in achieving sustainable energy efficiency as in any other core business outcome. Being Energy Smart means having stretched targets. You also need to understand what is required to bridge the gap between your current situation and the goals you want to achieve, or the state to be. It is … [Read more...]