Extinction Rebellion South Africa shares the concern voiced by many people and organizations over Minister Gwede Mantashe’s unreasonable fixation on nuclear power. In May, Minister Mantashe said, when addressing the Portfolio Committee: “We are going to explore all options, when there is appetite for nuclear in the market, we will go ahead with it.” Is that a sound plan? Why … [Read more...]
Replace shaky fossil energy with reliable sunlight
Eskom energy is shaky. First you have it, then you don’t. In the bigger scheme of things this is a good thing. We need to shift off fossil fuels anyway to save the climate. The more they charge us for energy, the better our motivation to take the plunge and do the sideways jump to renewables – essentially free power. Barring your installation of course. There is only one way … [Read more...]
An IRP that ignores constitution can expect legal challenges
The Life After Coal Campaign and Greenpeace Africa say that the Department of Energy will face a legal challenge from them if the IRP for electricity ignores constitutional obligations. “We are not afraid to take the Department of Energy to court if the updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) ignores the provisions made in the Constitution. We were successful in halting the … [Read more...]
Engineering study dispels myths on limits to renewables in SA
A serious engineering study and report has dispelled the myths and propaganda peddled by fired former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe and suspended Eskom acting CEO Matshela Koko on the limits and costs of accommodating significant levels of variable renewable energy capacity in the South African power grid. The study and associated report was prepared for the South African … [Read more...]
Incentive plan for Atlantis kicks off with wind tower factory
Wind energy is set to take off as construction has started on a new facility in Atlantis that would churn out 150 three-section wind towers per year. This is GRI Wind Steel South Africa’s new 12 000 m² wind tower mast production facility in the Green Technology Industrial Park in Atlantis. It is hoped that this facility will be completed in October 2014. This is the first … [Read more...]
Ethiopia opens Africa’s largest wind farm
Africa's biggest wind farm began production in Ethiopia on Saturday, aiding efforts to diversify electricity generation from hydropower plants and help the country become a major regional exporter of energy. The Horn of Africa country - plagued by frequent blackouts - plans to boost generating capacity from 2,000 MW to 10,000 MW within the next three to five years, much of … [Read more...]
Japan wants to build floating windmills
Twelve miles out to sea from the severely damaged and leaking nuclear reactors at Fukushima, a giant floating wind turbine signals the start of Japan’s most ambitious bet yet on clean energy. When this 350-foot-tall windmill is switched on next month, it will generate enough electricity to power 1,700 homes. Unremarkable, perhaps, but consider the goal of this offshore … [Read more...]
Energy experts and corporates discuss opportunities
Business think tank Accelerate Cape Town and KPMG brought several large companies together earlier this month to discuss emerging renewable energy opportunities in South Africa, with input from experts in business, academia and government. Accelerate Cape Town’s 48 member companies include some of the largest corporates in the country and a number of multinationals who have … [Read more...]
Saving the bats from the blade
In South Africa, two wind farms have been constructed and are currently operational, namely the Klipheuwel and Darling wind farms on the West Coast in the Western Cape. Proposals to construct many more have been submitted mainly along the West Coast, East Coast and the Central Karoo. Wind farms are considered integral to the development of the green economy, an economy … [Read more...]
Atlas to help tap SA wind potential
South Africa has launched its first verified wind atlas, which maps out potential hotspots as a tool for wind farm developers as the coal-hungry country pushes toward renewable energy. The Wind Atlas for South Africa, launched Deputy Energy Minister Barbara Thompson on Tuesday, brings together 30 years' worth of data verified over a year by 10 measurement masts and data … [Read more...]
Calculating Africa’s renewable energy potential
The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published a study mapping the potential of renewable energy sources in Africa. The report analyses the current energy consumption in Africa and assesses potential of renewable energy sources - solar, wind, biomass and hydropower - and their cost efficiency and environmental sustainability. Its publication coincides with … [Read more...]
South Africa electricity supply under pressure
About 77% of the country’s primary energy is provided by coal. Of that, 53% is used for electricity generation and 15 of the utility’s 27 existing and incomplete power stations are coal fired. South Africa’s dependence on fossil fuels is fast depleting our energy sources and is slowly resulting in a substantial depletion. This harsh reality was proven again this week after … [Read more...]
Nature can solve human’s problems
What captures energy like leaves, has fins like a whale, skin like a lizard, eyes like a moth, and interconnected networks like mycellium? The future of engineering, design, economics, agriculture, and much more. 'Bios' means life, 'Mimicry' means imitate. Biomimicry is the practice of learning from and then emulating life's genius to solve human problems and create more … [Read more...]
