South Africa’s renewable energy market is entering a new phase as Mezzanine and Open Access Energy (OAE) partner to accelerate the adoption of virtual wheeling. By integrating Mezzanine’s Virtual Wheeling Platform into OAE’s Energypro platform, the partnership simplifies renewable energy procurement for corporate energy buyers, independent power producers, and energy traders. The collaboration expands access to clean energy across Eskom- and municipally-connected customers, helping businesses reduce carbon emissions, manage energy costs, and participate in South Africa’s rapidly evolving electricity market.
Tag: Energy
Powering Beyond the Crisis: Unlocking South Africa’s Economic Revival Through Distributed Energy
South Africa’s energy crisis continues to weigh heavily on economic growth, industrial productivity, and household finances. In this opinion piece, Gerjo Hoffman, CEO of Open Access Energy, argues that distributed renewable energy and private power generation offer the fastest path to economic recovery. By reducing electricity costs, improving energy reliability, and enabling long-term savings through private Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), businesses can regain competitiveness and stimulate GDP growth. The article also highlights the role of financial institutions in accelerating renewable energy investment and calls for urgent regulatory reform to unlock South Africa’s full distributed energy potential.
Climate action key to affordable housing, but buildings decarbonisation stalls
A new report from the United Nations Environment Programme and Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction warns that global buildings decarbonisation is slowing despite rising climate risks and housing affordability pressures. Buildings and construction now account for 37% of global emissions and 28% of energy consumption. The report calls for faster energy-efficiency upgrades, stronger building codes, expanded renewable energy use, and USD 5.9 trillion in investment by 2030 to keep the sector aligned with net-zero climate goals.
Africa’s cement industry and the push for energy security
Africa’s cement industry is expanding rapidly as urbanisation, infrastructure projects and housing demand accelerate across the continent. However, unreliable electricity supply and rising energy costs continue to challenge cement manufacturers. In this op-ed, Krzysztof Lokaj, Africa Development Manager at Wärtsilä Energy
, explains why flexible engine-based power plants are emerging as a practical solution for cement producers seeking energy security, operational reliability and long-term efficiency. The article explores the advantages of reciprocating gas engines over gas turbines and coal-fired plants, particularly in supporting hybrid renewable energy systems across Africa.
How CIPS Level 4–6 Can Boost Your Career and Salary in Nigeria’s Growing Supply Chain Sector
Discover how CIPS Levels 4, 5, and 6 can accelerate procurement and supply chain careers in Nigeria. Learn how CIPS qualifications improve professional credibility, unlock senior roles, and increase salaries across industries including oil and gas, banking, telecoms, manufacturing, and logistics.
Africa’s Critical Minerals and the Reshaping of Global Semiconductor Supply Chains
Africa’s critical minerals—including cobalt, platinum group metals, lithium, graphite, and rare earth elements—are essential for semiconductor production, electric vehicles, data centers, and advanced electronics. As semiconductor manufacturing consolidates in strategic networks across the United States, Taiwan, and Japan, African countries face a policy crossroads: align with Western supply chain standards, deepen engagement with China, or pursue multi-vector strategies. Regional initiatives like AfCFTA and national beneficiation policies offer pathways to capture greater value, strengthen industrial sovereignty, and redefine Africa’s role in the global technology economy.
Africa Data Centre Market 2026: Structural Growth, Energy Constraints and Long-Term Investment Strategy
Africa’s data centre market is entering a structural growth phase, according to the latest report from the Africa Data Centres Association. While capacity expansion is accelerating across key hubs such as South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, the continent still represents a small share of global installed data centre infrastructure. The report highlights extended occupancy ramp-up periods, high energy-related operating costs, and gradual enterprise cloud migration as defining market characteristics. Operators are increasingly adopting phased expansion models, integrating renewable energy solutions, and developing AI-ready infrastructure to meet rising digital demand. Rather than speculative overbuild strategies, the African data centre sector is evolving through disciplined capital allocation, regulatory alignment, and long-term infrastructure investment.
5 Energy Market Realities in 2026
In 5 Energy Market Realities in 2026, David McDonald, CEO of SolarAfrica, breaks down the practical forces shaping South Africa’s energy landscape. The article explores why Eskom remains central to the wholesale market, how municipalities are increasingly buying power directly from IPPs, and why energy decisions are shifting from operations to balance sheets. It also examines the impact of rising fixed and capacity charges, the growing role of batteries and hybrid energy solutions, and why wheeling works — even as project financing struggles to keep pace. A grounded, on-the-ground view of how South Africa’s energy market will really operate in 2026.
AI Streetlights to Rescue Nigeria’s Coastal Highway
Nigeria’s long-delayed Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway could be transformed into a self-financing smart infrastructure corridor through the deployment of AI-driven, solar-powered iLamp streetlights. Proposed by UK greentech firm Conflow Power Group in partnership with Nigeria’s Mora Energy, the project would install around 28,000 solar iLamps along the 700km route, creating a distributed AI computing network powered by Nvidia processors. By generating up to US$1.26 billion annually from AI processing services, the iLamps could help close the project’s multi-billion-dollar funding gap while delivering lighting, security, connectivity and smart-city services—positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for renewable energy-powered AI infrastructure.
South Africa’s Energy Market Opens Up – Why Large Users Need to Act Now
South Africa’s energy market is opening to competition, giving large power users new choices in how they secure electricity. Companies that act now—using tools like wheeling and data-driven procurement—can reduce long-term costs, improve reliability, and strengthen competitiveness in a rapidly changing market.