Sustainability news: Solar stories
Mulilo-Sonnedix-Prieska Solar PV plant achieves commercial operation
Posted 26 July 2016
The 125 hectare, 86MW, Mulilo-Sonnedix-Prieska PV project, in the Northern Cape officially started commercial operation on Friday 22 July, 2016. Construction was completed after only 17 months. Further to developments in Europe, Asia and Americas, the Prieska Solar Plant is Independent Power Producer (IPP) Sonnedix’s first plant in South Africa and the biggest in its fleet.
The project will be run under the auspices of the Department of Energy and has an expected 20-year lifespan. Sonnedix will manage the ongoing operations with a local team, and will remain fully committed to support the local community and its economic development over the next 20 years.
“We are delighted to announce the completion of the Prieska Solar Plant, our first in South Africa,†Andreas Mustad, Sonnedix’s CEO said. “The project has driven crucial economic activity in the Northern Cape, and will bring renewable power to 40,000 homes across South Africa.â€
Read the full article here: www.sonnedix.com
See also J.P. Morgan Asset Management increases its investment in the Sonnedix Group 31 August 2016
Finance minister’s stance on independent power producers welcomed
Finance minister’s stance on independent power producers welcomed
www.wwf.org.za
Posted on 29 July 2016
Posted on 29 July 2016
“Eskom should also be comparing today’s renewables with new coal plants, which were three times more expensive, rather than old plants which are due to be decommissioned by 2030.
This aside, Eskom’s complaints that renewables were too costly was contrary to the evidence of the IPP bidding process which showed that costs had come down with each new bid”, said Saliem Fakir, head of WWF-SA’s Policy and Futures Unit.
“Eskom’s argument for nuclear is wholly optimistic given that it cannot build cost-effective new coal plants. It is unlikely to do so with more complex nuclear power plants which have higher safety requirements if it cannot prove itself prudent with coal. Nuclear power may turn out to be an expensive and regrettable choice and Eskom should be and take advantage of more renewables while the costs are coming down,†said Fakir.
“The public needs greater transparency around the costs of all forms of power generation – coal, nuclear or renewables – because it is unclear whether the benefits of cheaper electricity will be passed on to consumers,†he said.
Read the full article here: www.wwf.org.za
Wind, solar can supply bulk of South Africa’s power at least cost, CSIR model shows
There has been much discussion in recent months about the work done by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Energy Centre into the role that renewable energy could play in South Africa’s future electricity mix. In an extensive interview with Engineering News Online, Dr Tobias Bischof-Niemz outlines the key findings of the research and unpacks the possible implications.
“Research conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Energy Centre shows that, having the bulk of the country’s generation arising from wind and solar is not only technically feasibly, but also the lowest-cost option.”
Read the full article here: engineeringnews.co.za
South African PV sector slams delays as manufacturers close shop
www.rechargenews.com
By Christopher Hopson 31 August 2016
By Christopher Hopson 31 August 2016
South Africa’s solar industry has warned that the credibility of the country’s acclaimed Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) is being threatened by ongoing delays caused by the uncertainty created by state-owned power utility Eskom.
The row centres on recently reported comments to government by Ben Ngubane, the chairman of Eskom, that it will halt the signing of any more power purchase agreements with renewable IPPs once the current “round 4.5†is completed until the impact on its own finances can be assessed.
Eskom chief executive Brian Molefe has fuelled the controversy by giving interviews highlighting the intermittency of wind and solar generation, and talking up the role of nuclear in the low-carbon economy.
The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) said two leading international inverter manufacturers, SMA and AEG that had invested in factories in South Africa have closed
Read the full article here: www.rechargenews.com
Read the full article here: www.rechargenews.com
Private sector to build R40bn coal power stations
www.moneyweb.co.za
By Antoinette Slabbert 10 October 2016
By Antoinette Slabbert 10 October 2016
Energy minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson on Monday announced the Thabametsi and Khanyisa consortia as winners of the bids to become South Africa’s first independent power producers (IPPs) generating electricity from coal.
The winning bidders will construct power stations near Witbank in Mpumalanga and Lephalale in Limpopo, respectively and sell to Eskom on the basis of a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA).
The IPPs take the risk of construction cost overruns and delays, as well as coal price volatility.
The procurement specifications put a cap of 82c/kWh on the energy to be sold to Eskom and both bidders committed to that. The tariff will be index-adjusted over the period.
The projects are expected to create 6 613 job opportunities during construction, and 13 524 during operations. They are expected to come into commercial operation in December 2020.
Read the full article here: www.moneyweb.co.za
South Africa Has 3 Solar-Powered Airports, 3 More On The way
afkinsider.com
afkinsider.com
By Dana Sanchez Published 10 October 2016
The George airport is a transit hub for tourists, commercially grown flowers and oysters. It gets about 700,000 passengers a year.
The electricity bill has gone down 40 percent in the first year, said airport manager Brenda Voster. It will take another five to 10 years to pay off the $1.2 million cost of the power station, Voster told AFP.
The solar power station at George has 2,000 solar panels that generate around 750 kilowatts — more than the 400 kilowatts that the airport needs, PressTV reported.
Excess energy is fed back into the municipal power grid. A computer screen in the terminal informs passengers: “Within this month (September), 274 households were supplied through this system with green electricity.â€
Read the full article here: afkinsider.com
The Cost of Solar Power Has Fallen 25% in Only 5 Months
futurism.com
“Last year, Costa Rica powered itself purely with renewable energy for 299 days total.”
Read the full article here: futurism.com
George Airport
Image: www.moneyweb.co.za
Image: www.moneyweb.co.za
