With 673 hours of darkness in the first six months of 2022 so far alone, this year looks set to overtake 2021’s record amount of load shedding, while energy experts have raised the spectre of unprecedented stage 8 blackouts. And as winter cold sets in and heaters turn up, Eskom has warned of constraints on the national grid and just announced the restart of load … [Read more...]
Landmark licencing of private electricity trader set to transform SA energy
A new South African private electricity trading company is set to transform the country’s power market after recently being awarded a landmark licence that allows it to transport energy from independent power producers (IPPs) to private end-users in any location across the municipal and national electricity grid. Awarded in February 2022, Enpower Trading is the second … [Read more...]
Cape Town receives certificates for energy smart buildings
The City of Cape Town is proud to announce that it has received Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for three of its municipal buildings. We can only manage what we measure, so EPCs are a critical first step to reducing our energy use. The City is the first in South Africa to achieve this feat. This is good news for customers as more resource efficient facilities make … [Read more...]
Africa’s largest plastics recycler switches to solar energy
A new state-of-the-art 1.3MWp solar power plant will power green recycling for the African continent. Extrupet is one of the largest and most advanced recyclers of plastics on the African continent and recycles more than 4 million PET bottles every day at their Wadeville facility. With the switch to renewable energy, Extrupet has become one of the first companies in the … [Read more...]
Citrus farmer celebrates two years of solar energy
One of South Africa’s largest citrus farms are celebrating their second solar-versary. Their 265.98 kWp roof-mounted solar plant, that is made up of 806 x 330Wp Canadian Solar Photovoltaic panels, was commissioned in June 2019 and has been harnessing the sun’s energy and converting it to electricity to power the farm ever since. Joubert en Seuns is a well-established farming … [Read more...]
Job creation amid transition to a lower carbon economy
A transition to a lower carbon economy is occurring rapidly around the world and is critical for South Africa. The transition is being driven both by a realisation of the urgency required to save our environment and by economic reasons and comes with both positive and negative impacts on employment. These are some of the key highlights from a report – What a ‘just … [Read more...]
Pandemic accelerates solar training shift to digital
Shifting solar training to be facilitated digitally was always on the cards. The current pandemic has however made this a reality. The Solar Training Centre (STC) has partnered with the SA Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) and South African Energy Efficiency Confederation (SAEEC) to offer the PV GreenCard course digitally. This is the first ever live digital PV … [Read more...]
Growing green sectional title schemes
Rising utility costs, paired with competitively priced sustainable tools to supplement municipal electricity and water use, mean that sectional title schemes are becoming a more viable marketplace for the green building sector. While each scheme has unique characteristics, their expenses are often centred around meeting similar needs, namely: electricity and water use, … [Read more...]
Large-scale home cooling initiative commences across SA
Having been awarded a $100 000 grant by the international Million Cool Roofs Challenge last year to deploy solar-reflective roof coatings, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is now underway rolling out this low-tech cooling solution to communities across the country. This initiative is driven by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) with … [Read more...]
Global funding helps Cape Town school go solar
Solar micro-leasing marketplace Sun Exchange announced on Wednesday that it would be a key partner in providing solar power for several Western Cape Education Department schools, starting with Protea Heights Academy in Cape Town. Sun Exchange enables schools and businesses to have solar power installed with no upfront or ongoing operational costs. With immediate savings on … [Read more...]
School receives solar power unit thanks to Khayelitsha ‘eco warriors’
A high school in Salt River, Cape Town has received a new solar power unit, thanks to environmental justice warriors from Khayelitsha. The 3.96kWp solar system will save the school around R 8 200.00 on its annual electricity bill. It will also help the school cut back 5 tons on its yearly carbon emissions. The school was awarded a Wessa Eco-Schools flag in 2017. The project … [Read more...]
Joburg leadership urged to move to 100% renewable energy
The leadership and management of the City of Johannesburg are urged to get behind the call to switch Joburg to 100% renewable energy. This will very quickly start to make the city more sustainable as it creates jobs. To advance this aim, the African Climate Reality Project (ACRP) last week met with the Executive Director of the Environment and Infrastructure Services … [Read more...]
The annual Green Faire turns 10 – with TEDx!
This Sunday, 6 November, from 8-17:00 come experience green living at its best at the Hout Bay Green Faire. Join in the fun and share your green products. Envirochild’s annual eco-expo is celebrating its first double digit year by doubling up on its informative, inspiring offerings and guaranteeing twice the delight. Affordable and accessible, the Hout Bay Green Faire … [Read more...]
