Category Archives: Green Energy

Hybrid solutions are the most effective way to deliver reliable clean power to remote off-grid mining operations in Africa

Tarik Sfendla, Market Development Manager, Africa chez Wärtsilä Energy Business

Op-ed by Tarik Sfendla, Market Development Manager, Africa chez Wärtsilä Energy Business The energy markets are undergoing a massive transformation as governments around the world transition away from fossil fuels towards the integration of renewable energy. This trend is clearly visible in the mining industry as demonstrated by recent power projects in South America and in […]

Smart Power lights up Africa’s road to pandemic recovery

Photo: Cape Town, South Africa. Author: Taryn Elliott (Pexels.com)

Kieran Whyte, Partner, Head of the Energy, Mining and Infrastructure Practice, Johannesburg, and Marc Fèvre, Partner, London, Baker McKenzie. Across Africa, access to power is hampered by the lack of access to competitive funding, the dire state of the continent’s utilities infrastructure and the need for energy policy and legislation to be adapted so that […]

How Egypt banks on renewables to meet expected surge of energy demand

Essakane hybrid power plant 15 MWp solar PV power plant in Essakane, Burkina Faso. The solar PV plant will be built next to a 55 MW Wärtsilä power plant currently running on heavy fuel oil, Africa’s largest engine-solar PV hybrid power plant.

To meet its soaring demand for energy, Egypt is turning to renewable sources. Its targets, if accomplished, will see it become a pioneer in the African energy landscape. But are the plans realistic?  Egypt’s population has now passed 100 million. As one of the most populous and fastest-growing nations on the African continent, providing electricity […]

Without flexibility, the energy revolution in Africa will not take place

Sunrise over solar panels. hazy morning

It is no longer disputable that the energy transition integrating renewable energies into the grid is a reality that is unfolding globally. This can be observed at different rates and scales according to the countries, but the constant increase in demand and the continuous drop in the prices of these technologies will imply that renewable […]

Energy storage technology will make blackouts in Africa ancient history

Energy system integration night

A shift from Africa’s traditional approach to power generation is needed to unleash the continent’s clean energy potential and secure an African future free from blackouts. A strategy centred around energy storage and flexible power systems will be the key to guaranteeing the reliability of a high-renewable grid, while also lowering the cost of electricity […]

Neutrino Energy Solves Off-Grid Electrification Problems

Earth Night Orbit Rotate Planet Star Background. Epic Space Globe Surface Constellation Cosmos Navigation Travel Universe Exploration Concept 3D Animation

In 1935, President Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration, which helped millions of Americans in remote communities gain access to electricity for the first time. Since then, similar projects have been undertaken around the world, but nearly a billion  people worldwide still live without electricity. Existing energy technologies delivering electricity to underserved populations are inherently […]

Trends and Events in Africa 2018

Map of the REC Pillars of the African Economic Community. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

by Johan Burger 2018 has been an interesting year for Africa, with various events and trends becoming visible. 2016 saw the effects of the slowdown of China’s economic growth due to its rebalancing of its economy and the end of the commodity price super cycle. 2017 brought some relief. In Africa, 2018 demonstrated a number […]

Loadshedding: why mini grids are the answer and why South Africa doesn’t have them (yet)

ENGIE starts operations of Kathu, a 100 MW Concentrated Solar Plant and one of South Africa’s largest renewable energy projects

“Whole communities and towns can become 100% energy independent” “Mini grids could very quickly sort out a lot of the biggest challenges that South Africa is having with its energy supply at the moment” says Dr Sam Duby, Africa Director for TFE Energy and mini grid expert. He adds: “deregulation would open a market for […]

Friday@Noon on Renewable Energy in Africa: 2018

African Business News

by Johan Burger The NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies publishes a weekly newsletter on issues relevant to Africa. This paper is based on issues addressed in the newsletter. A trend of earlier years in which we saw the further growth and development of the renewable energy sector, has continued in 2018. Renewable energy is becoming […]

Dropping Solar Power Tariff Rates Spurring Indian Photovoltaic Generator Market

Netscribes launches report on the Photovoltaic Generator Market in India 2012 as part of Netscribes’ Energy and Utilities report series.   Mumbai, India, December, 2012 –(PR.com)– Solar PV power generation has long been acknowledged as a superior form of clean energy technology with vast potential, assuming its cost component can be significantly reduced. It draws […]