Friday, December 30, 2011

SA renewable energy associations to launch umbrella body

"Four of South Africa’s leading renewable energy associations plan to launch an umbrella body, provisionally named the South African Renewable Energy Council, to act as a “single voice” for the industry, which is believed to be on the verge of a significant expansion phase.

The organisation’s founding members will include the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (Sapvia), the South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea), the South African Solar Thermal Industry Association (Sastela) and the Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa (Sessa). But it is envisioned that other partners will be included at a later stage.

In fact, Sawea CEO Johan van den Berg reports that a variety of stakeholders could be included in future, noting that a number of nongovernmental organisations have considerable expertise in renewable energy.

“There are also other renewable technologies that have industry bodies, or the beginnings thereof. We will strive to be as inclusive as possible. The idea is not to create an overarching industry body but rather to create an overarching renewable energy custodian,” Van den Berg explains."

Source and more here, on Engineering News

News Snippets

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Basil Read outlines role in 26 MW wind project - Engineering News

Law firm advised 15 of first 28 renewables preferred bidders - Engineering News

Solar Capital says 75 MW De Aar project is ‘first phase’- Engineering News

Soitec, Schneider team up on Touwsrivier solar project - Engineering News

Vestas sets sights on more SA work as first two projects advance - Engineering News

'All systems go' for Eskom’s 100 MW wind project - Engineering News

International partnership gives SA renewables scale-up a boost - Engineering News

CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS
SA team insists COP 17 was a success, but accepts serious gaps remain - Engineering News

COP 17 breathes life into climate fund, sets agenda for future treaty - Engineering News

Countries still committed to launching $100bn climate fund - Engineering News

EU climate chief urges US, China to come on board - Engineering News

US denies delaying global climate deal - Engineering News

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Companies commit to energy efficiency - http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/companies-commit-to-energy-efficiency-2011-12-08 Engineering News

CLIMATE CHANGE
SA should consider placing a price on carbon - Engineering News

Canada first nation to pull out of Kyoto protocol - Engineering News

Cities sign climate change adaptation charter - Engineering News

CARBON EMISSIONS
China sees opportunities for CDM cooperation - Engineering News

FOOD MANUFACTURING
Durban’s new R670m food plant sets green benchmark - Engineering News

CARBON MARKETS
Carbon markets still on life support after climate deal - Engineering News

SOLAR TECHNOLOGY
Research facility planned to ‘fine tune’ thin solar technology - Engineering News

IDC lends R5.2bn in support to 12 renewables bidders

"State-owned development financier the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) reports that it has approved funding worth R5.2-billion for 12 of the 28 preferred bidders recently identified by the Department of Energy (DoE) as part of a process to procure 3 725 MW of renewable energy capacity from independent power producers (IPPs) by 2016."

Source and More here on Engineering News

Mainstream wind, solar projects worth R5bn advance to next stage

"A consortium led by global renewable energy developer Mainstream Renewable Power reports that South Africa’s Department of Energy (DoE) has named three of its wind and solar projects, representing a combined capacity of 230 MW, among the initial 28 to have progressed to the preferred-bidder stage."

Source and More here on Engineering News

IEA assisting in Africa wind-mapping project

"Developing a resource map and establishing a wind atlas for Africa, particularly for the Southern African Development Community region, was key for the development of the renewable energy sector and providing access to electricity for millions across the continent, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters told Engineering News Online on Thursday."

Source and More here on Engineering News

Sunday, December 11, 2011

SA unveils the names of first 28 preferred renewables bidders

"South Africa’s Energy Minister Dipuo Peters has officially disclosed the names of the first 28 renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) preferred bidders, which now have until June 2012 to take their projects to financial closure."
Source and More here on Engineering News

News Snippets

RENEWABLE ENERGY
135 MW Cookhouse wind farm the largest in first renewables round - Engineering News

Seven-year payback time for Dube TradePort solar installation - Engineering News

Saldanha steel mill supports wind-energy project - Engineering News

Cape Verde eyes 50% wind power by 2020 - Engineering News

CLIMATE CHANGE
'Blue carbon' policy framework seeks inclusion of coastal marine areas - Engineering News

AUTO INDUSTRY
MBSA’s East London plant cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 32% - Engineering News

Electric Smart may enter SA in 2013, Mercedes-Benz hybrids to follow - Engineering News

COP17 CONFERENCE
Africa fails to profit from UN carbon-offset scheme - Engineering News

World cannot accept ‘no’ for an answer in Durban – UN chief - Engineering News

Debt and doubt loom large over Durban climate talks - Engineering News

Finance questions raised in draft UN climate paper - Engineering News

CLIMATE FUNDING
Development banks move to help cities fight climate change - Engineering News

GREEN FUNDING
Mechanisms sought to offset incremental costs of SA’s renewables roll-out - Engineering News

CARBON MARKET
Strong growth in CDM projects in Africa - Engineering News

GREEN ECONOMY
GE sees opportunities emerging from green economy in Africa - Engineering News

ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT
SAWS moving towards real-time monitoring of air pollution - Engineering News

ELECTRICITY
Electricity utilities collaborate on climate change - Engineering News

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Energy saving LED streetlights showcased in Durban - Engineering News

CLIMATE FINANCE
Developed world must honour climate finance commitments – Sisulu - Engineering News

$100bn climate fund ‘badly needed’ – World Bank economist - Engineering News

New rules needed to accelerate investment in Africa - Engineering News

CARBON MARKET
Power utilities seek clarity on carbon market future - Engineering News

TRANSPORT INDUSTRY
Carbon tax will push up SA transport bill by up to R6bn, warns Imperial Logistics - Engineering News

CARBON DISCLOSURE
SA’s top companies rate high in carbon disclosure - Engineering News

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Reports on Outcome of Cop17

Cop17 approves 2015 Climate Pact - Durban - A marathon UN climate conference on Sunday approved a roadmap towards an accord that for the first time will bring all major emitters of greenhouse gases under a single legal roof.

If approved as scheduled in 2015, the pact will be operational from 2020 and become the prime weapon in the fight against climate change. News24

Cop17 Ends: Earth and Africa still heading for disaster - At around 5am this morning, the Durban COP approved various agreements to muted applause in a sleep-deprived, numbed plenary room.

These agreements still leave Earth on track for 3-4 degrees of warming or 5-6 degrees for Africa, by 2100, almost certainly disastrous. Source: http://cop17insouthafrica.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/cop-17-ends-earth-and-africa-still-headed-for-disaster/

COP17 agrees on second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol - After an extra day's hard negotiations, the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed Sunday on the second commitment period under Kyoto Protocol. Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sci/2011-12/11/c_131299821.htm

A brief summary of the Outcome with a link to a more detailed summary

Friday, December 9, 2011

Protest outside COP 17 hall

"Durban - A group of about 60 protesters blocked the corridor leading to the hall where negotiations were taking place at the COP 17 climate change conference in Durban on Friday.

They held up posters reading: "Don't kill Africa" and "stand strong Africa".

A line of United Nations security personnel in blue shirts stood in front of them.

The protesters were not violent, but were noisy, chanting slogans such as "we need a deal in Durban to happen now" and "seal the deal now".

They also started singing Shosholoza and clapping their hands.

The Greenpeace banner "Listen to the people not the polluters" could be seen at the front of the group."

Source and more here, on News24

COP-17: All countries still not on board for deal

If "big" countries such as the US, India and China did not sign up to the new deal taking shape at the Durban-hosted United Nations climate change talks (COP-17), there would be no deal, European Union climate change commissioner Connie Hedegaard said on Friday morning.

Source and more here, on Business Day

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Global Day of Action March - Durban 03 December 2011

Find out more here

VWSA cuts electricity consumption by 55%

"Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has cut electricity use at its Uitenhage plant by 42% from 2009 to 2010, with a further 13% reduction achieved from 2010 to 2011, says VWSA communications GM Matt Gennrich.

This forms part of Volkswagen’s Blue Factory initiative, to be found under the Think Blue banner, which guides the German brand’s approach to environmental issues."

Source and read more

Friday, December 2, 2011

NEWS SNIPPETS

Renewable Energy
Evaluation of first renewables bids complete, preferred bidders to be unveiled soon - Engineering News

Group Five confirms six renewables bids, to submit more in March - Engineering News

BMW to supply Rosslyn plant with electricity from waste - Engineering News

COP 17 CONFERENCE
COP 17 events progressing well – Minister - Engineering News

China decries Canada's 'bad example' in climate talks - Engineering News

Banks seen as climate culprits at global talks – report - Engineering News

SA temperature rise above global average - Engineering News
Climate Negotiations
Qatar to host 2012 UN climate talks  - Engineering News
Africa holds big green economy potential - Zuma - Engineering News

COP 17 Durban meeting will be a 'decisive moment' – Minister - Engineering News

CLIMATE MEETING
Heated debate over $100bn climate fund, says Saudi Arabia adviser - Engineering News

EU demands roadmap for global climate deal - Engineering News
Angola calls for common African position at COP 17 - Engineering News
GREEN ECONOMY
Climate-resilient infrastructure investments part of low-carbon transition - Engineering News
GREEN FINANCE
EIB, Investec unveil €100m green energy fund - Engineering News

SOLAR WATER HEATING
Eskom's Lennon sees ‘significant’ opportunities for SWH firms - Engineering News
SUSTAINABLE RETAIL
Walmart begins sharing green best practices with Massmart - Engineering News
CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE TECHNOLOGY
Norway to commission $1bn carbon capture and storage project in 2012 - Engineering News
SA supports carbon capture and storage but costs still a concern - Engineering News
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Philips, Eskom launch big LED lighting initiative - Engineering News
GEOTHERMAL
Kenyan KenGen raises $920m for geothermal plant - Engineering News
HYDROELECTRIC DAM
Portugal sale of stake in Mozambique dam delayed - Engineering News
ENERGY
Deputy Minister urges open mind on shale gas - Engineering News

NUCLEAR ENERGY
Any new disaster could spell the end of nuclear industry – economist - Engineering News
SA sets up nuclear oversight body, to name participants ‘in due course’ - Engineering News

Nuclear power seen (by some) as climate change mitigation option - Engineering News


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