Green Energy Archives - AfricaBusiness.com

30Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

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 in order to stabilise the local grid. PepsiCo Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), who procured the system from the SOLA Group, aims to secure energy supply and reduce carbon emissions at its large distribution centre, near Kempton Park in Johannesburg. “We are pleased to have implemented such a landmark project at one of our South African facilities,” said Umesh Himraj, Engineering Sustainability Lead at PepsiCo SSA. “This approach and investment into ...

21Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, Main

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. Countries across Africa want to make good on their objective of building huge amounts of new generation capacity to anticipate on vast increases in energy demand and set the continent on the path of growth and development it deserves. Africa knows where it needs to go. The big question is how. And more specifically: what is the most cost-effective energy mix that can be built to deliver all the new electricity capacity that is needed? Win...

24Jan

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, South Africa News

Developing a quality culture across South Africa’s Solar PV value chain

By 2030, total installed PV capacity in South Africa is expected to reach 8,400 MW. However, if we want sustainable growth, we need to ensure that we develop and implement quality infrastructure for solar PV systems. “Embedding a culture of quality is vital if we want to unlock the huge economic potential of solar technologies”, says Richard Doyle, Managing Director at Juwi Renewable Energies and speaker at the upcoming Solar Power Africa conference in Cape Town. Doyle will be moderating a session entitled “Minimise risk and enable quality assurance”, which will outline the steps already taken towards establishing and evolving a culture of quality excellence in the South African value chain. Doyle will be joined by leading renewable energy experts David Raphael, Technical Director, SOLI...

3Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, Kenya News

A Just Transition to Climate Resilience Could Transform Kenya into a Green Powerhouse

The Continent Is Highly Vulnerable to Climate Change, However, and Needs Significant Global Investment to Adapt to Higher Temperatures, Build Low-Carbon Economies, and Create Local Green Employment African countries face major climate-related challenges, but at the same time they have the opportunity to achieve sustainable low-carbon economies, according to a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The report, titled “Building a Climate-Resilient, Low-Carbon, Job-Rich Africa,” identifies particular disadvantages that countries on the continent must overcome but also their potential to become a model for transforming a power system based on fossil fuels to one based on renewables. Although Africa was responsible for only 4% of global CO2 emissions in 2019, it accounts for 35 of the 5...

29Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, Nigeria News, Startups

Arnergy Launches Diaspora Initiative For Clean Energy Remittances

Energy startup becomes Africa’s first solar company to launch renewables payment scheme for Nigerians abroad Arnergy, Nigeria’s leading distributed utility company delivering solar energy solutions, has today announced the launch of the Diaspora Initiative - a groundbreaking scheme enabling the global Nigerian diaspora to invest in solar energy solutions on behalf of local individuals and businesses. The first of its kind from an African solar company, the Diaspora Initiative enables Nigerians abroad to purchase off-grid solar panels and storage systems which are installed in households and businesses across Nigeria to deliver a clean and uninterrupted source of electricity. With Arnergy’s tech-enabled solar models marking a major innovation as a sustainable solution to Nigeria’s $29...

31Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Events, Green Energy, South Africa News

Gaia Africa Climate Fund selected by the ICFA Luxembourg to be accelerated

Cape Town, South Africa: The Gaia Africa Climate Fund has been selected as one of five funds to be accelerated by the International Climate Finance Accelerator in Luxembourg (ICFA). Being selected by the ICFA entails that the Gaia Africa Climate Fund – which was launched in July 2021 – will benefit from a financial award, training, access to a range of investor platforms and guidance on best practice. According to Renier de Wit, Managing Director of Gaia Fund Managers: “Gaia is absolutely thrilled to be selected as an ICFA cohort winner in 2021. The award accelerates the establishment of Gaia Africa Climate Fund in Luxembourg, ensuring this dream becomes a reality for the Gaia team. Gaia has significant value to bring to the African sustainable infrastructure market and to investors from...

18Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, Energy, Green Energy

Gaia Africa Climate Fund selected by the ICFA Luxembourg to be accelerated

The Gaia Africa Climate Fund has been selected as one of five funds to be accelerated by the International Climate Finance Accelerator in Luxembourg (ICFA). Being selected by the ICFA entails that the Gaia Africa Climate Fund – which was launched in July 2021 – will benefit from a financial award, training, access to a range of investor platforms and guidance on best practice. According to Renier de Wit, Managing Director of Gaia Fund Managers: “Gaia is absolutely thrilled to be selected as an ICFA cohort winner in 2021. The award accelerates the establishment of Gaia Africa Climate Fund in Luxembourg, ensuring this dream becomes a reality for the Gaia team. Gaia has significant value to bring to the African sustainable infrastructure market and to investors from developed markets seekin...

Zimbabwe’s Largest Tea Producer Implements Microgrid from DHYBRID and Blockpower

1Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, Zimbabwe News

Zimbabwe’s Largest Tea Producer Implements Microgrid from DHYBRID and Blockpower

Project to be showcased at EM-Power in Munich, Germany, October 6-8, 2021 Tanganda Tea Company Limited, Zimbabwe's largest tea producer and one of the largest on the African continent, uses its own microgrids at Tingamira and Jersey sites for secure and environmentally friendly energy supply since July 2021. The system consists of a megawatt-class solar plant, a lithium-ion energy storage system, and three diesel generators. It was implemented by DHYBRID and its partner, South African renewable energy specialists Blockpower. In addition to tea and coffee, avocados, and macadamia nuts are grown on site. "Sustainable production across the value chain is becoming increasingly important for companies like Tanganda. This includes a climate-friendly and reliable energy supply. Solar hybr...

27Sep

By African Energy ChamberNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, Senegal News

A Just Energy Transition as advocated by President Macky Sall, will benefit Senegal’s economy, and create jobs for its young people

African oil- and gas-producing countries have been facing increasing pressure this year to abandon oil and gas activities and begin relying instead on green energy sources like wind, solar, and hydrogen to help prevent climate change. Many of these African countries are pushing back, however, and rejecting the notion that their energy transitions should follow the same pattern as Western ones. In Senegal, where the development of oil and gas fields has put the country on the precipice of tremendous economic growth, Minister of Petroleum and Energy Aissatou Sophie Gladima has pushed and worked for a tempered and balanced approach to protecting the environment, one that considers the pressing needs of Senegalese people and businesses and the African Energy Chamber believes it is a step in t...

Dispatchable Renewable Energy: An Answer to Load Shedding

22Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, South Africa News

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, South Africa’s overall capacity to produce energy has plummeted by nearly 10% over the past decade and there are predictions of a shortfall of up to 6 000 megawatts over the next five years. To address this, government’s progressive stance towards renewables, as outlined in the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) commits to a shift away from coal towards renewables, with a planned 25% of all power being drawn from rene...