Tag Archives: renewable energy

Gaia launches first specialist REIT investing in on-site solar power solutions for businesses

Gaia Fund Managers announces the launch of South Africa’s first specialist real estate investment trust (REIT) investing in on-site private electricity generation for commercial and industrial clients. In a first round of fundraising, Gaia Renewables REIT – as the fund is called – aims to attract R500 million from institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices. The fund will allow […]

Unlocking the potential of Africa: The Neutrino Energy Group’s Pursuit of Strategic Partnerships

The Neutrino Energy Group is revolutionizing energy production with groundbreaking technologies and strategic partnerships In recent years, there has been a surge in the demand for sustainable energy solutions as the world grapples with growing environmental challenges and an increasing global population. Neutrino energy has emerged as a potentially limitless source of clean, renewable power, […]

A new year’s resolution for SA’s energy crisis – and why international organisations hold the key to an accelerated Just Energy Transition

By Alana Kruger, Knowledge Transfer Manager for South Africa at Innovate UK KTN Global Alliance Africa. According to leading lifestyle magazines and spiritual gurus, 2023 is a year for self-reflection, intuition and analytical enlightenment. It also marks 16 years since South Africans first experienced loadshedding – an unwelcome and common occurrence that continues to this […]

Solar and renewable energy trends in 2023

by Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer Industry veteran Sven Lindström, CEO of Swedish solar energy leader Midsummer, has predicted New Year’s energy trends since 2014 – often highly accurately. Again gazing into the crystal ball, this is what he sees as the three strongest trends in renewable energy as we move into 2023: Exactly a year […]

South Africa: The latest developments in Just Energy Transition

Kieran Whyte, Partner and Head of the Energy. Mining & Infrastructure Group, Baker McKenzie, Johannesburg During the World Leaders’ Summit at COP 27 in November 2022, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the new Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET IP) for South Africa. It was at COP 26 in November 2021, that it was […]

Africa to receive significant funding for the development of decentralized energy

The majority of Africans lack access to modern conveniences like electricity. Thankfully, the “The We  Give Light” foundation plans to donate 1 billion euros to the development of decentralized energy in Africa in order to provide the continent with renewable, decentralized, climate-friendly energy. These distributed energy systems are scheduled for development between 2023 and 2026. […]

‘Green affordable power in Africa is a must’ says new Power Up coalition at COP27

More than 600 million African people go without access to electricity, and more than 900 million are without safe cooking facilities. At the COP27 climate summit now happening in Egypt, Power Up –  a new campaign with over 45 member organisations, is amplifying marginalised African voices in pursuit of funding for green affordable energy, particularly for frontline organisations powering […]

Landmark for renewable energy in SA, with grid-connected battery system in Ekurhuleni

Ekurhuleni Municipality has approved the connection of a large solar PV plant and battery system, marking a landmark moment in renewable energy projects in South Africa.   The PV and lithium-ion battery system will form one of South Africa’s largest microgrids: a 1.8 MW solar PV facility alongside a 2.9 MWh battery, whilst being grid-connected […]

Africa can adopt renewable energy on a massive scale and save billions along the way

Oped by Kenneth Engblom Vice President, Wartsila Energy, Europe and Africa Africa’s energy future at a crossroad When it comes to building the future of energy in Africa, the decisions facing the continent’s leaders today are nothing less than of historical importance. More than anything else, energy systems are the very fabric of business and society. […]

Dispatchable Renewable Energy: An Answer to Load Shedding

In 2020, South Africans experienced the most intensive load shedding to date.  These crippling power cuts, which amounted to a staggering 856 hours, almost 10% of available hours, cost the economy billions of Rands. Poor performance at several power stations, including Kusile and Tutuka, resulted in a rapid depletion of Eskom’s emergency generation reserves. Furthermore, […]

EnDev and the IKEA Foundation launch renewables project at Vienna Energy Forum to support smallholder farmers

EnDev is launching a renewables project in partnership with the IKEA Foundation on 6 July at the Vienna Energy Forum. This three-year project aims to empower the agricultural sector by working closely with smallholder farmers, agri-businesses and solar enterprises in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. The IKEA Foundation has provided an €8 million grant to support EnDev’s efforts to demonstrate the […]

New thermal battery and solar tech help mining companies get rid of diesel

247Solar launches HeatStorE™, a long duration thermal battery made for adding more renewables to remote mining operations, industrial and grid solutions than is feasible with conventional batteries Great Falls, VA, USA, June 24th, 2021 – A robust new battery from 247Solar Inc., a spinoff of MIT, operates almost like an electrochemical battery but has significant […]

Africa Energy Week 2021, Taking Place in Cape Town; Will Focus on Investment, Oil and Gas, Renewables and Energy Transition

The African Energy Chamber is set to host the first-ever African Energy Week (AEW) in Cape Town on 9th – 12th November 2021. Replacing Africa Oil Week, the four-day interactive conference seeks to unite industry stakeholders, international speakers and movers and shakers from the African oil and gas sector. The conference comprises high-class networking events, […]

Winch Energy Launches Crowdfunding For Off-Grid Renewables

New clean energy opportunities in developing countries for UK and international investors Off-grid utilities provider, Winch Energy, is seeking to secure up to £1.5 million through a crowdfunding campaign for projects to accelerate the installation of renewable energy technology in Sierra Leone and Uganda. The Crowdcube campaign is part of an overall fundraising plan over […]

Net Zero? Not for Africa. Not Yet. Africa Must Fight Energy Poverty with Oil and Gas Development

By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber On May 18, 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released “Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector,” which outlines plans for the global energy sector to reach “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Achieving net zero emissions means the amount of greenhouse […]

Greenpeace and Western Anti Africa Energy Groups Take the Wrong Approach to East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Uganda and Tanzania

By NJ Ayuk, Executive President of the African Energy Chamber. If someone were to put me on the spot and ask me to name an environmentalist group, I’d probably blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, Greenpeace. There are obvious reasons for this: Greenpeace has been around for more than 50 years, and […]

South Africa needs over 28 GW of flexibility to reach 100% renewables at lowest cost

Wärtsilä launches agile balancing technology – capable of ramping up to 10+ MW in two minutes – to bridge South Africa to renewable energy future The technology group Wärtsilä has highlighted a striking need to scale up flexibility in South Africa, in the form of energy storage and flexible gas technology, to enable a 100% renewable energy future. 28 […]

Mozambique holds the key to Southern Africa’s clean energy transition

By Fhedzi Modau, Mozambique Country Manager, Wartsila Energy Business With its massive gas reserves and billions of dollars of investment flowing in to monetize them, Mozambique has a unique opportunity to deploy a flexible power strategy that will bring major benefits across both its domestic and regional electricity markets. Countries across Southern Africa have established […]

Use of green methane in transport and power generation – researchers and industry present interim results of the MethanQuest project

New technologies for producing gas from renewable sources Testing of hydrogen, methanol and methane for use in ships, cars and power generation LNG supply and microgrid concept for Karlsruhe inland port  The flagship project MethanQuest was launched in September 2018, and on it a total of 29 partners from research, industry and the energy sector […]

REN21’s new report shows that cities across Africa demonstrate progressive leadership to deploy renewables

The 2021 edition of REN21’s Renewables in Cities Global Status Report, shows that one billion people live in cities with a renewable energy target or policy. The number of cities that have enforced partial or complete bans on fossil fuels jumped fivefold in 2020. With a special focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, the report shows that despite many challenges, […]

Without flexibility, Nigeria will face difficulties integrating large amounts of renewable energy into the grid

Op-ed by Wale Yusuff, Managing Director of  Wartsila Marine & Power Service Nig Ltd As the largest economy in Africa, with huge gas reserves and high solar energy potential, Nigeria has all the natural resources necessary to meet the growing demand for electricity. However, the inadequate energy infrastructure still leaves a significant part of the population without […]