Eco News SA

SABS introduces energy efficiency labelling standard for appliances

2012-03-18T07:41:00.000-07:00

"Following several calls by government for households to reduce their daily energy consumption and alleviate pressure from the electricity grid, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has introduced a product-labelling standard for electronic appliances." Source and more here.

News Snippets

2012-03-18T07:39:00.000-07:00

Paper, pulp industry eager to participate in renewables tender - Engineering News

SA seeks R25bn in foreign investment for water infrastructure - Engineering News

The internal combustion engine dead? Think again, shows BMW - Engineering News

European aviation CEOs appeal to EU Prime Ministers over emissions scheme - Engineering News

Absa teams up with AFD to fund clean energy projects - Engineering News

South African businesses urged to assess water supply risk - Engineering News

Green Cross seeks stricter standards as Fukushima anniversary nears - Engineering News

South Africa goes big on nuclear a year on from Fukushima - Engineering News

Support for successful ecological infrastructure scheme grows beyond R1bn - Engineering News

Philips launches energy efficient lighting company - Engineering News

SA wind turbine maker I-WEC completes first prototype blade - Engineering News

Nersa lowers 2012 power price increase from 25.9% to 16% - Engineering News

Public comment invited on plan to enlarge five national parks - Engineering News

French firm lauds SA commitment to energy efficiency - Engineering News

Eskom shuts one Koeberg nuclear unit for refuelling - Engineering News

Internet Solutions introduces 'green' data centre - Engineering News

SA’s second renewables bid window closes - Engineering News

BASF produces 50-millionth emissions control catalyst in PE - Engineering News

DWA stepping up enforcement activities in Vaal catchment area - Engineering News

Genetically modified crops increase in SA

2012-03-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

"Biotech maize occupies 72% of commercially planted maize in South Africa.

Biotech crops in South Africa have increased by 100,000 hectares for the second consecutive year, an independent biotech scientist said on Thursday." Source and more here.

IN THE MEANWHILE:

SA to sign new biotechnology agreement with the ICGEB - Engineering News

New SA wind atlas to help with renewables site selection

2012-03-13T23:31:00.000-07:00

"Deputy Energy Minister Barbara Thompson on Tuesday launched South Africa’s first verified numerical wind atlas for the Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.

Thompson said that the atlas, which is part of the Wind Atlas for South Africa (Wasa) project, would be a useful tool for comparison and identification of potential sites for future wind turbine projects." Source and more here.

Press Release: Earthlife Africa Cape Town - Nuclear

2012-03-09T04:26:00.000-08:00

Earthlife Africa Cape Town invites members of the press and the public to engage with them and their "nuclear cyclist" at the finish of the Cape Argus cycle tour opposite the Shell garage near the Mouille Point lighthouse from 8am until 2pm on Sunday the 11th of March 2012. We will be commemorating the 1st anniversary of the worlds worst industrial accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plants and highlighting the threat of nuclear power in the Cape.

Nuclear Barrels in Cape Town

2012-03-04T23:29:00.000-08:00

"Activists from Greenpeace Africa have placed look-a-like radioactive barrels on a Three Anchors Bay beach in Sea Point, Cape Town to highlight the risks and true costs associated with nuclear power. Through the simulated radioactive pollution, Greenpeace aims to encourage South Africans to ask the key questions that the government has so far failed to answer. " Read more here.

South African Fuel-Free Generator Preparing for Market

2012-03-03T04:11:00.000-08:00

Sterling Allan reports on his recent trip to South Africa to visit a company who has developed a 5 kilowatt Fuel Free Generator that will be available beginning March for their existing customers. Sterling will be getting a generator to test and use on his home from that first batch of 200. Source and read more here.

SA moves to find consensus on how to tackle tyre-mountain scourge

2012-03-03T02:45:00.000-08:00

"It is common cause that South Africa requires a plan to deal with its growing ‘tyre mountain’ problem, which is growing at a rate of about 200 000 t a year, or one-million waste tyres each month. This is aggravated by the fact that about 11-million used tyres, are dumped illegally yearly, or burnt to retrieve the steel wire inside, resulting in air pollution." Source and read more here.

Fracking Survey Results Questioned

2012-03-03T02:44:00.000-08:00

Local anti-fracking lobby, Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG) today dismissed the results of an IPSOS Markinor opinion survey, as to whether or not South Africans want fracking.

Jonathan Deal, chairman of TKAG stated, “On the face of it, and without an untimely debate on this technical and controversial technology, we dismiss the report results on, inter alia, the following points:

Source and read more here.

The State of the Nation in Terms of Sustainability

2012-03-03T02:42:00.000-08:00

"President Jacob Zuma’s State of The Nation Address, on 9 February 2012, has received mixed responses. The focus on economic development and infrastructure was well received in general; as well as the continued focus on growth and job creation. In particular, the Industrial Policy Action Plan is likely to provide far reaching opportunities to boost the green economy, as well as the President’s mention of the 10 billion rand to be set aside by the IDC for job creation with the mandate to lean toward a low carbon economy with regards to industrial job creation.

On the eve of these seemingly positive outcomes, however, a report (available online at www.epi.yale.edu) was released which proposes that South Africa’s natural environment has, over the past 20 years, deteriorated nearly the fastest of most countries in the world." Source and read more here on Global Carbon Exchange

News Snippets

2012-03-03T02:39:00.000-08:00

Merger to tap into energy opportunities in SA and Africa - Engineering News

Determining carbon tax rate a fine balancing act – Treasury - Engineering News

R50bn from first renewables projects, as next bid window nears - Engineering News

Too early to put definitive price tag to nuclear programme - Engineering News

N Cape’s renewables potential underlined as Nersa gears up for licence hearings - Engineering News

SA won’t stipulate where nuclear solution is sourced – Peters - Engineering News

Vunani investigates greening of older buildings - Engineering News

UK supports SA prosperity, low-carbon growth projects - Engineering News

SA moves to find consensus on how to tackle tyre-mountain scourge - Engineering News

SA’s coal fleet has 2 GW of CSP-hybrid potential - Alstom - Engineering News

Coal miner Exxaro to submit five renewable energy bids - Engineering News

Renewables firms urge binding EU 2030 energy targets - Engineering News

Mondi invests in energy projects as it targets 97.5% self-sufficiency - Engineering News

Current power price path will squeeze SA competitiveness - Engineering News

Levy on power from nonrenewable sources to increase - Engineering News

New carbon tax discussion document this year - Engineering News

Instrument needed to cushion municipalities from energy efficiency revenue losses - Engineering News

Nuclear features in State’s R3.2tr project pipeline - Engineering News

Kenya's Kengen to raise $12bn for new plants - "Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) said on Monday it planned to raise $12-billion to build six geothermal power plants that should generate 585 MW by 2016, as it pushes to diversify its power sources." Engineering News

SA sees R2bn ethanol plant by 2014 - Engineering News

IFM engaging with Eskom on possible power buy-back options - Engineering News

SA to make nuclear decision soon, Peters reveals - Engineering News

South Africa's 2012 Budget Speech and the Environment

2012-03-01T11:02:00.001-08:00

Letter to Editor:

"Unfortunately I missed most of the budget speech so decided to look up a copy of the speech on the net. I was eager to find out what would be said about SA's plans to channel funds to more environmentally sound practices that would see our nation excel in spearheading green technologies and transporting our current unsustainable dirty economy into a thriving green one.

Because the speech was so long, I first tried to search by using the keyword 'environment' but found that out of the 8 times it was used (excluding subheadings), it was only used once in the context of environmental protection... the rest was in the context of the 'economic' environment!

There was one short paragraph covering 'environmental protection' which was grouped with 'economic services'. 15.8 billion allocated to this group, the bulk of which will go to "the manufacturing competitiveness enhancement programme" and "for industrial development and special economic zones".

Strangely, when I checked a Budget Speech 'highlights' graph published by National Treasury, they show 'environmental protection' getting 9.5 billion. I tried to figure out how this figure was derived at based on what was said in the speech. If out of 15.8 billion, 5.8 is going to 'the manufacturing competitive enhancement programme' and 'for industrial development and special economic zones', that leaves us with 10 billion (not 9.5 as per the graph). If this is the same R10 billion referred to in the speech as R9.5 Billion, it is to be spent on the following (per the speech):

'• Sanparks for tourism infrastructure;
• National Metrology Institute for equipment;
• Dept Agriculture, forestry and Fisheries to improve agricultural support services
• land bank to 'conclude its recapitalisation'
• provincial and municipal agricultural colleges
• Dept Rural Dev and Land reform for settlement of restitution claims.'

Of the above, I fail to recognize which part of it should be classified as 'environmental protection'? (You may be interested in looking at this graph to see what other areas (such as defence and prisons) are receiving in comparison here [2.28MB]).

Okay, so moving along, I did a search on the word 'renewable energy' to see what would pop up. The word appeared once when the Minister reflected on the first round of renewable energy projects that were successfully tendered to independent power producers. However, not a word was mentioned about government's plans for spending on this promising sector.

So what has been allocated to the energy sector in general? R300 billion. Of this, the Minister mentioned how R6 billion of it will be spent but was silent on the rest. Media reports however have long ago enlightened me to the missing piece of the puzzle: our government plans for rolling out Eskom's nuclear fleet build programme has an estimated price tag of R300 billion. So there it is. :(

Looking at other decisions which may (or may not - depending on how things actually unfold) have a positive impact on our natural environment: Carbon tax to be finalised; an increase in the electricity levy on electricity generated from non-renewable sources (to be used in place of 'current funding mechanisms for energy-efficiency initiatives such as the solar water geyser programme'). Even though the power producers are responsible for paying this levy, we all know that you and I pay for it in the long run, yet we are not given the choice whether to consume non or renewable power. Fuel levies will also go up and 4.7 billion is allocated to 'complete the installation of one million solar water geyers'. There will also be R600 million going to municipalities to install low-energy lighting and equipment (we can only hope that this includes an allocation to educate the public regarding how to handle the proper disposal of the millions of flourescent lamps they are dumping on doorsteps). An additional R1.1 billion is to go to Working for Water and Working on Fire.

To quote the Minister (speaking of our short-term energy plans): "In energy, the focus is on demand-side management to address the impact of limited supply until new generation comes online."

I was hoping to be inspired by this year's budget speech, but instead I was left feeling sad and defeated. The many hidden messages laced throughout the speech which lead to a vision of ‘business as usual’, a vision where our leaders have completely ignored the need to shift to sustainable solutions and reducing environmental degradation, but instead one shortsighted vision of improving the short-term 'bottom' line. It is just disturbing to think that they don't realise that their plans might look good on paper for now, but this will be short lived.

I will now leave you with some quotes from the speech that will shed some light on the path our leaders have decided to take (if you are able to read between the lines). It was disheartening to see how the skill used in choosing words outweighed the skill used in deciding our country's future!

I've included some of my own comments and highlighting regarding the irony of some statements.

"We will not turn away from our challenges. We must confront them boldly, and with hope. [then why are we not shifting away from non-renewables?, I ask] In harnessing all the resources at our disposal, we have to do more, with less; we have to work smarter and harder. South Africans must focus on our strenghts and opportunities, to identify and activate the levers of economic and social change at our disposal." [what about the wind and solar at our disposal??, I ask]
"To succeed in this environment, we have to seize the opportunities presented by this changing world." [why aren't we then?!, I ask]... and then in the very next breath:

"As a major mining economy, we should be benefiting more from the continued buoyancy in commodity markerts internationally. We also need to take advantage of rising demand for agricultural and manufacturing goods. Some 85 million manufacturing jobs in China will shift to other countries over the years ahead. Do we have the right policies, conditions and boldness to enable South African business to gain from these immense shifts in the patterns of production and trade?" [am I right that the Minister is saying that we should grab at the "opportunity" of having foreign countries come in to use our labour and resources to strengthen their own economies for the sake of 'job creation'? What about creating our own jobs and strengthening our own economy from the inside out?]

Interestingly, under the subheading 'Vision for the economy in 2030, one of the key objectives is 'raising mining output'.

A copy of the full budget speech can be downloaded here: http://www.treasury.gov.za/documents/national%20budget/2012/speech/speech.pdf

N.B.: This is a letter based on opinion and a single person’s interpretation. Please verify facts/figures before quoting anything from this post.

Brace yourself for the mother of all tenders

2012-02-29T05:19:00.002-08:00

"DID the Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, really think that a decision to spend R300-billion over the next 17 years on nuclear power stations did not merit a mention in his budget speech?"

Source and more here.

Fukushima Accident Proves that Nuclear is Dangerous

2012-02-29T02:42:00.000-08:00

"Greenpeace today urges the South African government to learn from the lessons of Fukushinma and to stop the use of nuclear in South Africa’s energy mix. Almost a year after the Fukushima nuclear disaster thousands of Japanese are still reeling from the devastation and displacement as a result. This remains sad reminder that nuclear power is dangerous and will only lead South Africa to a deadly energy future.

As part of activities to remember the March 11th 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Greenpeace Africa is hosting a survivor of the nuclear tragedy from the 27 February to 2 March 2012. Evacuee Ms Ayako Oga is a long-time resident and farmer from the village of Okuma Machi, around 7.5 kilometres from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Ms Oga was forced to leave her home and abandon her dream to live and farm in the countryside as she knows she may never return home."

Source and more here.

Cape Town initiates net-metering pilot project

2012-02-26T09:47:00.000-08:00

"The City of Cape Town has initiated a net-metering pilot project to allow domestic energy producers to feed electricity back into the grid, Dr Anthony Keen told an audience at a South African National Energy Association meeting in Cape Town on Tuesday.

“I am pleased to be able to report to you that there are three of us in Cape Town . . . [and] we’ve been privileged [that] the City of Cape Town has accepted us onto a pilot project for grid feed-in,” said Keen, a medical doctor who is pursuing his interest in sustainable energy after retiring from an academic career at the University of Cape Town’s medical school." Source and more here.

African clean-energy projects showcased to investors

2012-02-26T09:37:00.000-08:00

"Potential investors were given exposure to ten small-scale African clean-energy projects, representing a potential combined investment value of $297-million, at an event held in Johannesburg this week.

The gathering, known as the Africa Forum for Clean Energy Financing, or Africef, was hosted by the Climate Technology Initiative’s Private Financing Advisory Network (CTI PFAN), a global multilateral initiative designed to connect clean energy project developers with investors and financiers.

The projects showcased included biofuels developments, as well as solar, biogas and waste-to-energy initiatives that were being promoted by entrepreneurs from Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe." Source and more here.

Earthlife Africa labels proposed energy bills as ‘undemocratic’

2012-02-26T09:33:00.000-08:00

"Environmental organisation Earthlife Africa has slammed the Department of Energy’s (DoE’s) National Energy Regulator Amendment Bill and the Electricity Regulation Second Amendment Bill as “highly undemocratic”.

Programme officer Makoma Lekalakala urged the DoE to withdraw these bills, saying it would place significant decision-making power in the hands of Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, by eviscerating the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).

“This goes against the Constitution and implementation of democratic institutions. An independent and impartial regulator is a critical part of the checks and balances that define modern representative democracies such as South Africa,” she stated.

Lekalakala also said the degree to which the public will be removed from the decision-making process was concerning." Source and more here.

Mines Operating Without Requisite Water Use Licences: Acting with Impunity Exacerbating Environmental Degradation

2012-02-26T09:24:00.000-08:00

"For the past two years, there has been ongoing engagement between civil society, community organisations, academic institutions and law clinics increasingly concerned about the impacts of mining on the environment and on the communities that rely on those natural resources. This coalition has now evolved into a Mining, Environment and Community Alliance that works together to implement a civil society legal strategy to promote environmental compliance, transparency and accountability in mining." Source and read more here on Lawyers for Human Rights's website.

Wind Farm developments in SA - Articles on well-known news websites stir debate

2012-02-26T09:18:00.000-08:00

Recently certain articles appeared on Engineering News in which the writer criticized wind farms to be developed in SA. The articles were interestingly filled with emotional and some questionable statements. Read one of the articles here, and the follow on article here then read the comments posted by readers in response to the articles below the articles.

wind generator design uses recycled hard drives

2012-02-16T08:16:00.000-08:00

This Urban Sprout article reports how an electrical engineering student (Hartmut Jagau)at Cape Town University won the Student Poster Presentation award at the 2011 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Energy Conversion Congress & Exposition that was held last year in the USA for his innovative wind generator design.

"His last prototype could generate 328W of electrical power – enough to provide a household with electricity to run one 19-inch colour television, two portable stereos, ten 16W compact fluorescent light bulbs and three mobile phone chargers."

Source and more here, on Urban Sprout.

News Snippets

2012-02-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

Coal-dependent South Africa has no explicit coal policy – Prof - Source and more here.

Hyundai launches pilot water recycling drive - "Hyundai Bryanston hopes to cut its municipal water use by 80% following the installation of a water capture and recycling system, says dealer principal Kosta Avgoustinos" Source and more here.

World lacks enough food, fuel as population soars - " The world is running out of time to make sure there is enough food, water and energy to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population and to avoid sending up to three-billion people into poverty, a UN report warned on Monday.

As the world's population looks set to grow to nearly nine-billion by 2040 from seven-billion now, and the number of middle-class consumers increases by three-billion over the next 20 years, the demand for resources will rise exponentially.

Even by 2030, the world will need at least 50% more food, 45% more energy and 30% more water, according to UN estimates, at a time when a changing environment is creating new limits to supply." source and more here.

IWMSA welcomes withdrawal of Redisa approval - Source and more here.

Water Affairs confirms movement on long-term Acid Mine Drainage study - Source and more here.

Sexwale to join Antarctica climate change expedition - Source and more here.

Redisa waste tyre plan approval withdrawn - Source and more here.

Vodafone unveils ‘green’ innovation Centre - " A significant opportunity exists for companies to use their own sector technology and expertise in finding solutions to meet critical social, environmental and governance challenges, mobile group Vodacom CEO Pieter Uys highlighted at the unveiling of parent company Vodafone’s new innovation centre in Midrand, on Tuesday.

Rated by the Green Building Council of South Africa as the first six-star Green Star SA building in the country, the facility is also the greenest building in Africa." Source and more here.

SA urged to act before EU carbon project window closes in Dec - "Climate finance practitioners and regulators have urged South African developers of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects to finalise their applications for registration of such projects with the United Nations during the first quarter of 2012, or face being excluded from the key European market." Source and more here.

Heavyweight industry group issues carbon tax warning - " An industry lobby group comprising large mining groups and mineral processing companies is cautioning against the proposed introduction of a carbon tax in South Africa until South Africa has fully charted its abatement potential and the costs implications of implementing its renewable-energy heavy power generation plans." Source and more here.

2012 'make-or-break' year for Joule as it seeks govt commitment - Source and more here.

Nersa postpones power price hearings as it receives notice of policy review - Source and more here.

Cosatu calls for protests over solar sector jobs failure - "Cosatu in the Western Cape is planning protests at Parliament over what it claims is government's failure to implement job commitments regarding the importation of components for solar panels." source and more here.

3E to host renewable energy seminars next week - " Renewable energy technical advisers 3E will host two free breakfast seminars next week to mark the opening of its Cape Town office.

The seminars, which will focus on technical risk management for solar and wind project investments, will take place on January 25 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, and on the January 26 at the Lagoon Beach Hotel, in Cape Town."
source and more here.

Gathering to home in on SA’s solar jobs potential - " The link between job creation and the deployment of solar energy solutions in South Africa will come under the spotlight during a SolarPlaza conference in Johannesburg on January 25.

The gathering comes as the Department of Energy (DoE) prepares to open the second bidding window in March for the procurement of 3 725 MW of renewable capacity to be installed between 2012 and 2016." Source and more here.

Better scientific understanding of link between climate change, food security needed - source and more here.

Deputy Minister to launch energy savings roadshow - Source and more here.

News Snippets

2012-01-20T03:10:00.000-08:00

TCTA again warns of funding shortfall for acid water projects - Source and more here.

Tyre recycling plan unsustainable, jobs potential overestimated - " Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has overestimated the number of jobs that can be created through the new tyre recycling programme, Democratic Alliance (DA) water and environment spokesperson Gareth Morgan said on Wednesday, adding that the initiative was unsustainable.

He also said that Minister, who unveiled the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative South Africa (Redisa) on Tuesday, may have flouted sections of the Waste Tyre Regulations (WTR), by failing to publish the plan in the Government Gazette for a 30-day comment period or bring it to the attention of relevant organs of State and interested persons.

“Despite the existence of another long-standing industry driven plan on the table, the Minister has effectively given Redisa a monopoly over tyre recycling in South Africa, as manufactures, dealers and importers must become a subscriber to the plan as long as it is the only plan approved by the Minister,” Morgan told Engineering News Online." Source and more here.

Renewables to be fastest-growing energy segment over 20 years - BP - " Fossil fuels will continue to dominate the global energy mix in 2030, oil group BP forecasts in its latest ‘Energy Outlook 2030’, in which it estimates that such primary energy sources should still comprise 81% of global energy demand by that date. But the overall share of fossil fuels in the mix is likely to be 6% lower than is the case currently as fuel switching accelerates, with gas and renewables replacing coal and oil.

This “gradual” switching should result in renewables, including biofuels, remaining the fastest-growing sources of energy supply globally, rising at a yearly rate of more than 8% – materially quicker that the rate of growth of the fastest-growing fossil fuel, natural gas, the use of which is likely to increase by 2% a year over the period." Source and more here.

Minister Molewa unveils plan to deal with waste tyres - " A levy of R2.30/kg would be introduced on new tyres manufactured in or imported into South Africa from February 1 to pay for the collection and recycling of waste tyres, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa announced in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Over 200 000 t of tyres become waste tyres in South Africa every year, with about 11-million used tyres being dumped illegally or burnt to retrieve the steel wire in the tyre. “With this figure estimated to increase by around 9.5% annually, the country has a serious waste tyre problem,” Molewa said at a briefing." Source and read more here.

US renewables firms eyeing SA’s next IPP bidding windows - " US Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman confirmed on Monday that two American renewable energy firms were among the first 28 project developers named as preferred bidders by South Africa’s Department of Energy in December. The companies were identified as SolarReserve and SunEdison." Source and more here.

Metals lobby gears up for talks on EU carbon tax - " LONDON – Europe's metals sector is gearing up for talks with the European Commission on plans to start taxing its carbon emissions but at the same time prevent factories and smelters from shutting shop or moving abroad.

Metals lobby group Eurometeaux, which is meeting with the commission at the end of January, wants to persuade it to grant the sector full exemption from the indirect carbon costs embedded in electricity prices." Source and more here.

New tyre recycling law to tackle waste problem

2012-01-10T03:52:00.000-08:00

"A waste tyre management plan to be rolled out later this year will create a "sustainable recycling industry" to deal with a major waste problem, the recycling initiative said on Monday.

Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa) said the Integrated Industry Waste Tyre Management Plan, which had been approved by Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, would create jobs and foster small and medium-sized businesses throughout the country."

Source and More here on Engineering News

SA renewable energy associations to launch umbrella body

2011-12-30T02:21:00.001-08:00

"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

2011-12-30T02:19:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-30T02:17:00.001-08:00

"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

2011-12-30T02:17:00.000-08:00

"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

2011-12-30T02:16:00.000-08:00

"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

SA unveils the names of first 28 preferred renewables bidders

2011-12-11T09:34:00.001-08:00

"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

2011-12-11T09:31:00.001-08:00

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

Reports on Outcome of Cop17

2011-12-10T23:03:00.000-08:00

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

Protest outside COP 17 hall

2011-12-09T07:36:00.000-08:00

"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

2011-12-09T07:34:00.001-08:00

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

Global Day of Action March - Durban 03 December 2011

2011-12-04T00:38:00.001-08:00

Find out more here

VWSA cuts electricity consumption by 55%

2011-12-04T00:35:00.000-08:00

"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

NEWS SNIPPETS

2011-12-02T05:24:00.001-08:00

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

Upscaling renewables beyond IRP allocations will drive green jobs - report

2011-11-25T22:50:00.001-08:00

"A new ‘Green Jobs’ report estimates that some 130 023 direct jobs could be created by South Africa’s renewable energy sector by 2025, but only if the renewables allocation outlined in the current Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010-2030 is materially expanded"

Source and More here on Engineering News

NEWS SNIPPETS

2011-11-25T06:52:00.001-08:00

CARBON TAX
SA carbon tax could have growth, jobs co-benefits – World Bank - Engineering News

Carbon Taxation: South Africa and beyond - Global Carbon Exchange

Sustainability Efforts reduce medical claims - Global Carbon Exchange

RENEWABLE ENERGY
Bank sees strong interest in renewable energy investments - Engineering News

As renewables bids flow, SA seeks ways to lower the deployment costs - Engineering News

Eskom weighs emission-reduction options as its launches PV pilot - Engineering News

World Bank OKs $297m for Morocco solar plant - Engineering News

SOLAR POWER
Big rooftop solar installation for Dube TradePort - Engineering News

R22m made available to kick start E Cape SWH project - Engineering News

CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS
Science not politics must drive Durban climate talks - Engineering News

Zuma calls for credible COP 17 outcome - Engineering News

As the COP 17 clock counts down, few signs of global consensus emerge - Engineering News

SWHs to help minimise COP 17 environmental footprint - Engineering News

Time running out for deal on global warming at climate talks - Engineering News
AVIATION & BIOFUELS
SAA mulls big biofuels shift in bid to avoid possible carbon penalties - Engineering News

The Monsterous Price of South Africa's Coal Addiction

2011-11-25T06:43:00.001-08:00

Check out this GreenPeace Africa article highlighting a report they released about a month ago called 'the True Cost of Coal'.

This report calculates the actual cost of Kusile's entire coal chain. The report provides compelling evidence that South Africa should end its addiction to coal.

You can read the report and full article here.

Nuclear illness scourge

2011-11-24T12:45:00.001-08:00

"Exposure to uranium at South African nuclear facilities over the years has left dozens of people dead and hundreds of others terminally ill, an investigation by The New Age has revealed."

Source and More here on: The New Age

Wind Turbines and Bird Fatalities

2011-11-24T06:35:00.001-08:00

"Last month, biologists found 484 bird carcasses at the AES-owned Laurel Mountain wind installation in West Virginia. The mass mortality event did not involve turbines."

"...(apparently the) cause was that migrating birds were drawn to lights left on at the facility’s electrical substation in cold foggy weather. The birds, it is theorized, were galvanized and disoriented by the bright lights and circled until they died and fell out of the sky."

This article also provides an interesting chart on bird mortalities and the various causes.

Source and More here on greentechmedia

Illovo aims for energy self-sufficiency in 3 to 5 years

2011-11-24T06:28:00.001-08:00

"JSE-listed Illovo Sugar aims to move towards achieving self-sufficiency in electricity generation, as it increases its use of renewable energy, the sugar producer said on Wednesday.

GM Graham Clark tells Engineering News Online that with ongoing initiatives and capital investments, the group hopes to reach self-sufficiency within the next three to five years."
Source and More here on: Engineering News

Grid Connectivity Talk Hosted by Greencape Initiative (Cape Town)

2011-11-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

We attended a "Grid Connectivity" talk hosted by the Greencape Initiative in the Cape Town CBD today. Our rough notes on what was covered are given below[for confirmation of the facts, refer to the Greencape Initiative website]:

FIRST, OUR COMMENTS:
It is interesting to note that at events such as this, it has become apparent that there is substantial public interest in smaller projects and home installations. The fact that getting net metering off the ground could be difficult due to the potential risk of loss of income to Municipalities is unfortunate and makes one wonder about the actual purpose of these public bodies (i.e. protecting the public's best interests v being a going concern as if a private company). We do, however, hope that the steps Eskom is taking to allow for IPPs to get RE projects off the ground in SA are going to be fruitful and we think that the Greencape Initiative is a valuable support structure to help this process get off the ground.

OUR ROUGH NOTES:
The main speaker was Riaan Smit, Chief Engineer of Network Planning at Eskom.

Riaan started by reviewing the outcome of the first bidding process for SA's tender for the procurement of renewable energy by Independant Power Producers for which applications were accepted up to 04 November 2011.

149 applications for wind power projects, 122 Solar PV, 9 CSP & 41 applications for 'other' projects were received. Wind was clearly proved the most popular (in terms of the number of applications submitted) with PV following close behind.

In terms of capacity (MW), wind power again came tops, taking roughly 75%.

Rebid progress (started 17 November 2011):
Only 53 bids have been confirmed as received.
Many applications are not meeting the necessary requirements (environmental and other)
[Note: preferred bidders to be announced by the DoE over Cop17 (Durban).]

THE GRID & DIFFERENT RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

Challenge:
Where to develop new grid. Lead times of projects etc. New grids need to be built over the next 30 years.

Different technologies - Impact on the grid:
wind - You get the older and newer concepts all with different specs in terms of: power regulation; speed; gearbox; type; inverter, and voltage. There is a need to model the various types (a, b, c and d). Types C & D favoured (DFIG & PMSG[full power electronic converters]).
Ref: africa electricity.com

CSP - discussed two types of energy storage:
steam storage vessel (e.g. Spain example) or salt storage.
Indicated that steam storage "stabilised production during cloud transient - more grid friendly".

TECHNICAL CONCERNS / AWARENESS

1.thermal loading of lines and transformers
2.voltage variations during the normal operation
3. overvoltage studies for RE projects
4. voltage recovery after faults
5. phasing out old networks [instead of fixing existing infrastructure, maybe redo on new network.

(dependant on size and location)

Took Laingsberg wind power facility as an example - expect high voltages; small voltage changes due to line outages.
power factor control characteristic - need to choose correct wind turbine technology [C or d].

Line lengths are a big factor - Longer the line, increase in losses, voltage changes, limit transfer, capacity constrained.

what to do? Thicken[?] up conductor? Ask developers to move sites?

More technical concerns/awareness:
6.reactive power control
7.focus on load modelling
8.short circuit currents. fault level.
9.limit system losses vs maximum use of thermal capacities
10.reliability required by wind, pv, csp, other developers.
11.impact on power quality aspects.
12.transmission system requirements such as voltage stability
13.dynamic studies for various technologies, including mw networks.
14.impact on sub-synchronous resonance for cape network (rotor movement in cape v rotor movement north - can cause resonance).
15.voltage sags due to breaker operation
16.cable/transformer inrush currents
17.influence on ripple control systems.

CURRENT ESKOM ACTIVITIES:
Staff went to Denmark to visit two facilities for 3 weeks to gain practical experience. Feedback is that we are not as far behind as what was anticipatied. The main focus during this visit was skills development and new documentation.

Grid access unit established - customer service interface and applications.

Distribution master plans and network development plans to cater for RE scenarios. What to expect? Which applications will be approved? How to plan for networks in future.

Distribution self build policy and guideline - expect for it to be available Dec 2011.

Transmission updating generation connection capacity assessment future scenarios - A follow up of GCCA-2012. Making some changes to this. Should be available middle next year (scenerious up to 2040) [IRP going on to 2013]. Will build different scenarios, including less nuclear scenario to see if replaced by RE how it will be.

STILL NEED TO ADDRESS requirements for small renewable energy projects (based on NRS 097-2). Smaller i.e. 1mw and bigger.

Nothing yet for smaller than 1MW. Commented that maybe get the bigger ones goings and then tackle 100kw (household). Maybe next year. NRS 097-2 - making provision for smaller project technical requirements.

Smart grid working group.
people say smart grid(s) are the answer.
For this reason, this group has been established.

LESSONS LEARNT
company "A" does not transfer cost estimate from Eskom to company "B"

Mismatch between property ownership/rights and actual servitude requirements.

Mismatch between Eskom technical solutions offered and developer documents
point of utility coupling - gaps identified

developers risk project if scope not clearly defined and agreed with Eskom mismatch between developer EIA own solutions vs Eskom practical solution - eg cannot just rebuild new line on existing servitude while supplying customers.

Clear indication of self built with time lines/lead times to be well defined.

Q&A:
1. EIA time lapse - Can use of cables make it easier? - A: If the EIA needs to improve route - then it won't make it easier.

2. Someone from the floor said that NERSA has condoned roof top - unqualified access to grid for anything below 100kw. A:Rian says that nothing has been approved. If NERSA condones then it is something still to be developed, perhaps next year.

Another response to question 2 above: Someone added that we are talking about net metering and that local authorities are working together to try and achieve this. There is no problem with it, but we just haven't worked out the regulatory environment for it. Once this is in place, Eskom has to execute it, but to get this in place will take time. NERSA does the regulating, but at the end of the day, it must be dealt with on a local authority level. To get anything through, it will have to be sent through National Treasury. Local authorities make their revenue from electricity sales and Treasury may be weary of implementing systems which may lead to having to bail out local authorities that go bust.

3. Developers are not allowed to combine (resources?). DOE issue.

4. How to handle intermittent load of RE. Example of how Germany and Netherlands have good integrated networks and why gas can play a role as it does there, in allowing for quick response. Ramp rate of solar might also help. Noted that it is said that ramp rate in Britain is not a big issue. Example of sports event or royal wedding intermission times when there is major consumption peak (use of kettles, etc) and how the grid handled it. It is a matter of conventional and reserves being properly managed. Problem in SA is that we don't have reserve to allow for this.
................

Renewables sector makes local content pledge as SA unveils new green deal

2011-11-21T07:10:00.001-08:00

South Africa's emerging renewable-energy industry committed to a minimum local content level of 35% for the initial roll-out of renewables projects, but indicated that steps would be taken to raise that level towards government's aspirational target of 75% over time.

The commitment was made in a new 'Green Economy Accord', which was signed by government, business, labour and organised community groups at a ceremony held in Cape Town on Thursday.

Source and More here on Engineering News

News Snippets

2011-11-20T22:26:00.000-08:00

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Enel GP in solar power bid in South Africa - Engineering News

Standard Bank eyes solar lamp CO2 offsets in Asia - Engineering News

Evaluation of first renewable-energy project bids begins as first deadline closes - Engineering News

SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental sustainability seen as a driver for competitiveness - Engineering News

CLIMATE CHANGE

Policy shows SA ready to take action on climate change - Engineering News

Industry questions SA climate change plan - Engineering News
SA should showcase low carbon investment opportunities at COP 17 - Engineering News

SA not backing away from its GHG reduction targets – Minister - Engineering News

CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS

SA to strive for climate, development balance at COP 17 - Engineering News

WWF sees COP 17 as laying foundation for future deal - Engineering News
CLIMATE FUND

Africa urged to unite against corruption ahead of COP 17 - Engineering News

UN climate fund rifts linger, Durban talks loom – EU - Engineering News

POWER

Japan, Korean firms win Kenya geothermal contract - Engineering News

Vac-from-the-Sea (Plastic Recycling, green art and raising awareness about ocean pollution)

2011-11-17T06:06:00.001-08:00

On International Coastal Clean-Up Day, plastic was collected at Hout Bay Harbour by 50 divers. The plastic debris collected was then handed over to local artist and eco-warrior, Simon Max Bannister, to construct South Africa’s first Vac from the Sea artwork in a Woodstock studio in Cape Town. By melting the plastic and using a heated spray gun Simon applies different coloured plastics onto a re-cycled vacuum cleaner to highlight our unique coastal Cape Town position where the hot and cold currents of the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. The underlying purpose being to raise awareness about the necessity of plastic recycling and to empower people to take responsibility for ensuring a cleaner ocean and beaches.

Source here on: http://5050.internext.co.za/?p=169

NEWS SNIPPETS

2011-11-17T03:13:00.001-08:00

SOLAR CAR CHALLENGE
Sponsorships up for grabs to enter SA's third solar car race - Engineering News

RENEWABLE ENERGY
SA evaluating 53 mostly wind, solar bids worth R7bn, next bid window set for March - Engineering News

SA moves to establish ‘Renewable Energy Fund’ - Engineering News

World Bank’s African renewables funding rises to $3.6bn - Engineering News

LOCAL MANUFACTURING
Local solar water heater manufacturers taking strain - Engineering News

HYDROPOWER
SA, DRC hope MoU will foster more ‘inclusive’ Grand Inga plan - Engineering News

GREEN FUND
Anglo launches R100m ‘green’ development fund - Engineering News

CLIMATE CHANGE
Africa's Nile, Limpopo at risk from climate change - Engineering News

WIND POWER
Kenyan firm plans 61 MW wind power farm - Engineering News

Greenpeace Confronts Eskom - End coal addiction and embrace renewables today

2011-11-08T01:46:00.000-08:00

07 November 2011 -

"Greenpeace activists today dropped a banner from a crane inside the construction grounds of ESKOM’s latest colossal coal-fired power plant, Kusile - reading ‘Kusile: climate killer’. At the same time, other activists have locked themselves to gates at the plant’s front entrance - protesting with banners saying ‘green jobs now’ and ‘no future in coal’ – calling on ESKOM, the utility company, to stop its coal addiction and instead invest in renewable energy projects in South Africa."

Source and read more: Greenpeace

Solardome closes production facility after 42 years

2011-11-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

"Solardome, the oldest solar water heater (swh) manufacturer in the Western Cape, will be closing its production facility at the end of November 2011.
This family owned business, founded in 1969 by Gustaf Lindenberg and run by his son, Tertius, has been producing high quality durable swh systems for 42 years. Solardome has been a landmark in the swh industry, advancing research into innovative technology, product development and most importantly creating valuable jobs in this sector.
Tertius lays the blame for the closing of their production facility at the door of the regulatory environment in this country.
At least three more swh manufacturers in the Western Cape are at the point of making the same decision as Solardome.
Since the implementation of the Eskom swh incentive programme in 2008, the industry has been through incredible flux. This programme has brought with it new regulatory costs and often unclear policy or programme changes that caused knee jerk reactions to the market. Had the programme managed to stimulate the demand for swh’s this higher regulatory cost might have been absorbed. After three years of the programme, the installation of high pressure swh’s has grown from about 16,000 to about 30,000 units per year. Even though this is a reasonable percentage growth, we are working from such a low base that it cannot be considered significant. Furthermore, if compared to the more than 500 000 standard geysers installed every year in South Africa, it is clear that the market is still operating at well below its potential. What is even more significant is that the number of suppliers of swh’s has in the same time grown from 45 to more than 500. This programme has managed to convince new businesses (mostly importers) to enter the market, but has failed to stimulate the demand in the same way.
Prior to the implementation of the swh programme approximately 50% to 70% of swh’s installed in South Africa was locally manufactured. At the outset concern was raised by several local swh manufacturers about the future viability of the industry. As part of the terms of reference of the programme, there was a commitment to implement a local manufacturing component to the calculation of the subsidy value within one year from the launch of the programme. This local content multiplier was to be implemented no later than 2009. This local content multiplier was however only announced in June 2011, but was later cancelled. It was announced that a revised structure would be implemented in October 2011. In September 2011 the implementation of the multiplier was postponed to January 2012.
On the eve of our country hosting COP17 and with the supposed promotion of renewable energy, reduction of carbon emissions and especially local economic development, it is a tragedy that a swh manufacturing business that has been in operation for more than 40 years has to close its doors.
It is probably too late for Solardome, but something has to change so that we don’t look back in a year’s time and see that every last one of our factories have closed and the only swh’s on the market are imports."
SOURCE: K Kritzinger - Greencape

Life Cycle Cost of Coal Power

2011-11-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

"A new Harvard University study examines the life cycle cost of coal power including all the resulting environmental and health expenses and found that although the coal itself might be cheap, the price of generating power from it is not. The study found that coal power actually costs the U.S. somewhere between $345 billion and $500 billion each year.

The study says that if all of those expenses were included in people's electricity bills, it would double to triple the cost of coal power, adding $0.09 - $0.27 per kWh, making it no longer the cheapest source of electricity, but one of the most expensive.

Some of the hidden expenses outlined in the study are elevated rates of cancer and other diseases in coal-mining regions, environmental damage to those areas (including water and air pollution), loss of tourism dollars and costs related to climate change.

The full study titled "Full cost accounting for the life cycle of coal" will be published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences soon.

via Reuters and Greenpeace"

Source: EcogeekWritten by Megan Treacy on 17/02/11

News Snippets

2011-11-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

RENEWABLE ENERGY
Eskom secures yet more development finance for wind, solar projects - Engineering News

CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate Train starts journey to raise awareness ahead of COP 17 - Engineering News

CARBON CREDITS
Standard Bank, Sable to complete first Zimbabwe CDM project - Engineering News

ENERGY
Fossil fuels still seen as dominant energy source by 2050 - Engineering News

Carbon capture and storage losing momentum - Engineering News

Coal's role in SA power future - Engineering News

CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS
COP 17 no walk in the park – Zuma - Engineering News

COGENERATION
Mondi up to 79% energy self-reliant - Engineering News

CARBON TAX & PROPERTY
Carbon tax to have significant impact on property sector - Engineering News

News Snippets

2011-11-04T07:59:00.001-07:00

SOLAR WATER HEATING
East London SWH plant officially launched - Engineering News

WATER & POWER
Ratification sought for next Lesotho Highlands phase, separate $15bn power scheme is unveiled - Engineering News

WIND POWER
Big wind turbine mould arrives in Cape Town - Engineering News

NUCLEAR POWER
SA nuclear power programme closer to R400bn – DG - Engineering News

GREEN BUILDING
GBCSA launches rating tool for multi-unit residential buildings - Engineering News

Vodacom achieves SA's first 6-star green building rating - Engineering News

CLIMATE FUNDING
$100bn Green Climate Fund hits barrier - Engineering News

CLIMATE CHANGE
Durban climate change meeting ‘won’t be easy’ – Minister - Engineering News

Big business, investors urge tough climate action - Engineering News

Relief for South Africa's pigs in sight

2011-11-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

"Sow stalls are to give way to group housing on deep litter.

Sow stalls for breeding pigs are likely to be phased-out in South Africa by 2020. Confirmation of the date of phase-out is anticipated by the end of November this year, Mr James Jenkinson, board member of theSouth African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) told Compassion in World Farming (South Africa) last week."

Source and More here on Urban Sprout

Hout Bay Green Faire 2011

2011-11-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

This year's Hout Bay Green Faire took place on Saturday the 29th of October. Although the rain clouds threatened from time to time it turned out to be an amazing day! Free Life on Earth participated as an exhibitor. This year we raised awareness about deforestation because 2011 was declared International Year of the Forests. Find out more about the Hout Bay Green Faire here.

Pics: Free Life on Earth Committee Members at the Hout Bay Green Faire 2011; Free Life on Earth 'Year of the Forests' stand

NEWS SNIPPETS

2011-10-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

GREEN FINANCE
R500m energy-efficiency fund will also support self-use renewables projects - Engineering News

NUCLEAR
Japan still considering total nuclear power pullout - Engineering News

AUTO INDUSTRY
Lessons in driving an electric car - Engineering News

CLIMATE TALKS
Businesses becoming more involved in climate talks - Engineering News

ECOLOGY & ECONOMY
SA moves to begin reflecting the economic value of its ecosystems, biodiversity - Engineering News

CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS
South Africa faces COP 17 balancing act - Engineering News

CLIMATE CHANGE
SA gives carbon-heavy sectors two years to set carbon budgets - Engineering News

GREEN ECONOMY

Switch to green economy 'will be painful' - Engineering News

Wind power is key to KwaZulu-Natal’s green economy - Engineering News

NEWS SNIPPETS

2011-10-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

CLIMATE POLICY
Climate policy to map out transition to low-carbon economy - Engineering News

SOLAR GEYSERS
New initiative seeks to tap carbon-credit potential of SA’s solar-geyser roll-out - Engineering News

GREEN TECHNOLOGY
Air France and Airbus complete green commercial flight - Engineering News

TRADE & CLIMATE CHANGE
SA should align trade and climate policies – Treasury official - Engineering News

GREEN ECONOMY
Environmental Affairs, DBSA to establish 'green' funding mechanism - Engineering News

DPE drafting climate change, green economy policy for SoEs - Engineering News

RENEWABLES FUNDING
SA to launch renewables funding scheme at climate conference - Engineering News

EMISSIONS
South Korea sets 2012 CO2 cut volume for industry, power - Engineering News

CLIMATE CHANGE
SA approves climate policy, confident on COP 17 - Engineering News

SA will not deviate from African bloc in key climate talks - Engineering News

Climate change negotiators see no major Durban deal - Engineering News

AUTO INDUSTRY
Less is more, promises BMW - Engineering News

Nissan to launch Leaf electric car in SA in 2013 – if policy is in place - Engineering News

Hyundai SA starts construction on its new R75m green head office - Engineering News

NUCLEAR ENERGY
Lessons from Fukushima outlined in SA nuclear safety meeting - Engineering News

Japan begins energy debate as nuclear forces fight back - Engineering News

50/50 - Wave Energy & SA's Energy Future (aired Monday, 17 October 2011)

2011-10-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

On Monday night, 50|50 had an insert discussing wave energy technology and its potential to play a role in SA's energy future. The insert overview can be obtained on the 50|50 website:

"With the change in global production of energy imminent then, there’s now money to be made in investing in alternative energy. Wind and Solar energy have the biggest interest from investors. Other options are hydroelectric power – as we’ve seen produced from some of Eskom’s dams in the Drakensburg – tide energy, geothermal energy, photovoltaic energy and waves. So what’s the big fuss? If there are so many sustainable ways of getting energy, why are politicians and energy providers dragging their heels?"

Source and More here on 50/50

Eskom seeks transition from rebates to contracts to bolster solar-geyser roll-out

2011-10-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

"State-owned power utility Eskom has indicated that it favours a transition to a competitive bidding, or contractual, model for the large-scale procurement of low-pressure solar water heaters (SWH) ahead of a continuation of the current rebate scheme, or the deployment of a so-called ‘standard offer’ incentive."

Source and more here on Engineering News

Japanese breakthrough will make wind power cheaper than nuclear [and coal?]

2011-09-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

"A surprising aerodynamic innovation in wind turbine design called the 'wind lens' could triple the output of a typical wind turbine, making it less costly than nuclear power." Source: Mother Nature Network - by Karl Burkart.

This article tells all about this new invention and gives a summary on the wind energy potential in the US. Well worth the read!

Can Japan's Anti-Nuclear Protesters Keep the Reactors Shut Down?

2011-09-30T08:03:00.001-07:00

"For months after a devastating earthquake and tsunami crippled Japan's Fukushima power plant, sparking fears of a possible nuclear meltdown, the country's anti-nuclear groups struggled to be heard. A few small rallies were held, but they failed to generate much media coverage. As debates raged from Germany to China about the safety of nuclear reactors, commentary in Japan, of all places, was strangely absent. Protests are just that unusual in this conservative country.

But this is starting to change. As Fukushima continues to spew more radioactivity into the air and trust in the government and Tokyo Electric Power Co. plunges, the mood in Japan is slowly shifting away from nuclear power. On Sept. 19, the mounting anger and fear culminated in a rally of some 60,000 anti-nuclear protesters in Tokyo — the largest such gathering since the March 11 quake and tsunami."

Source and More here on - Time

Massive increase in Green Star rated buildings in SA

2011-09-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

"The green movement in the built environment is spreading like wildfire and in the month of September alone the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) certified three new green buildings in SA under the Green Star SA rating system."

Source and More here on - SA Commercial Prop News

Transforming South Africa’s Energy Sector Through Renewable Energy

2011-09-30T08:02:00.001-07:00

"In this article Davin Chown argues that South Africa should take advantage of the opportunities presented by renewable energies and stop relying on coal-fired power stations which emit carbon emissions and pollute the environment."

"South Africa has long relied on coal to produce cheap electricity - or what we were led to believe was cheap electricity. This cheap, but dirty fossil fuel has driven our country’s economy for many decades, and has, alongside this development, created many thousands of jobs both in the mining and energy sector.

...

For everyone involved, the change to a new renewable energy system will be sometimes slow and frustrating, but it is clear that South Africa cannot go on with its polluting ways and continue to face the impacts of climate change on its agricultural systems and in general its eco-system which are the glue and foundation that keep the economic system going. We are in a once-off transition to sustainability and South Africa is in a position to learn from the mistakes made by others, and not to repeat these very costly mistakes."

Source and More here on - NGO Pulse.

NEWS SNIPPETS

2011-09-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

WIND POWER
Danish wind turbine part maker mulls SA plant - Engineering News

DST to offer assistance packages to spur localisation in wind sector - Engineering News

Big wind power roll-out to bring transport headaches - Engineering News

MANUFACTURING
Proudly SA’s new CEO to place spotlight on govt procurement policies - Engineering News

GREEN TECHNOLOGY
Entrepreneurs, SMEs urged to participate in clean tech competition - Engineering News

RENEWABLE ENERGY
UNDP adviser highlights renewable energy tender approach drawbacks - Engineering News

AfDB loan concludes 100-MW Eskom wind farm funding phase - Engineering News

CLIMATE CONFERENCE
SA’s latest climate study to reveal severe weather risks - Engineering News

AUTO INDUSTRY
DTI to mull over draft electric vehicle strategy before it goes to Cabinet - Engineering News

GM, SAIC sign electric vehicle development agreement - Engineering News

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
SA hosts deforestation emissions reduction workshop ahead of COP 17 - Engineering News

We Up the Pressure on Govt to Stop Nuclear - Greenpeace

West African Fisheries Decline Steeply as Government Fails to Act - Greenpeace
GREEN ECONOMY
Carbon-neutral Green Cab helps to shrink carbon footprint - Engineering News

GREEN BUILDING
Three more office developments certified under Green Star SA - Engineering News

Green Building Council to launch pilot public and education rating tool - Engineering News

Planting Day

2011-09-30T07:59:00.000-07:00

23 September was Planting Day, according to the Planting Season team.

"One look at the international stock market tells you that now is the perfect time to get that vegetable garden growing." - Planting Season team

For more information here on - Planting Season

Seeds for Growth: Financing smallholder farming in southern Africa

2011-09-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Book, "Seeds for Growth: Financing smallholder farming in southern Africa" explores how governance and political decision-making about the allocation of resources could transform the smallholder agricultural landscape in southern Africa. It affirms the role smallholder agriculture can play in a national and regional political system in the pursuit of social and economic justice."

Source and More here on - Idasa

Eskom signs two loan agreements for wind project

2011-09-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

"Eskom signed two loan agreements totalling $365 million with the African Development Bank on Sunday, which will enable it to implement a renewable wind and solar generator, the electricity parastatal said.

"These are exciting times for Eskom," CEO Brian Dames said in a statement.

"We are committed to a cleaner energy future and we now have the capability to implement our large-scale wind and solar generation projects. We appreciate the roles the African Development Bank and the South African government have played in making this possible," he said."

Source and More here on - Times Live

NEWS SNIPPET - GREEN BUILDING

2011-09-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

"Amendments were recently introduced to the Regulations to the Building Standards Act in Government Gazette 34586, Notice 711, dated 9 September 2011.

These aim to set down certain requirements for energy usage in buildings and will become effective two months after publication in the Gazette, i.e. on 10 November 2011. Developers, architects and builders can have a look at the regulations here ."

Source: STBB|Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes Attorneys

24 Sept 2011 - Global Protest to Move Away from Fossil Fuels

2011-09-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

A global initiative by organisations and individuals called "Moving Planet" headed by the organisation called 350 took place yesterday 24 September 2011, with 2000 events taking place in over 175 countries across the planet. The aim is to show world leaders that "a movement is rising to move our planet forward to a clean energy future". View a slideshow of images from all corners of the globe here on the Moving Planet website. In Cape Town, South Africa a "Tread Lightly" procession of people marched through the city centre carrying messages promoting renewable energy, greening, recycling, eating and buying local, and protests against fracking, nuclear and fossil fuels. Below are some pictures of the Cape Town event taken by Free Life on Earth.

NEWS SNIPPETS

2011-09-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

GREEN BUILDING
The case for green retrofitting is clear, says CIDB’s Milford

NUCLEAR PROTEST
Greenpeace calls on SA to abandon nuclear energy plans

ELECTRICITY
5 000 MW solar park study to be finalised by end 2012

CARBON FINANCING
SA could lose out on carbon financing if EU moves ahead with LDC plan

RENEWABLE ENERGY
ABB to build two solar PV plants for Eskom

CLIMATE CHANGE
Businesses urged to get involved in climate negotiating process

AGRICULTURE
G20 to draft plan on agriculture, infrastructure

NUCLEAR
Nuclear plans to go before Cabinet soon, bidding to start in 2012

ENERGY
African Ministers to compile list of priority energy projects

COAL SUPPLY
Eskom to source another 5Mt of coal to boost stockpile

COGENERATION
SACC to build 8 MW cogen plant in Newcastle

Simplified tender for small-scale renewables by November

2011-09-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

"Simplified tender documentation for small-scale renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) projects of between 1 MW and 5 MW were currently being prepared and should be released by November, the South African government reported on Wednesday.

Speaking at a media briefing held on the sidelines of a renewable energy bidders conference being hosted to canvass responses to the Department of Energy’s (DoE’s) request for proposals (RFP) for the procurement of 3 725 MW of renewables capacity from IPPs capable of delivering projects by 2016, the National Treasury’s Karen Breytenbach said work was currently under way on the documentation.

The tender should be available for release by the time the first bid window closed for the current RFP on November 4, 2011, and she promised that it would be “much simpler” and would “lower the barriers to entry”."

Source and More here on Engineering News.

NEWS SNIPPETS

2011-09-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewables bidders conference reflects high levels of interest in SA roll-out
Lack of solar preparedness could see capacity reallocated to wind

Aveng confirms plans to take equity in wind, solar projects

CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE
COP 17 key for decision on carbon capture’s inclusion under CDM

SOLAR POWER
R1.6m solar PV system installed at new Valpré spring water plant

ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE
Sanbi accredited as UN Adaptation Fund implementing entity

CLIMATE CHANGE
Concerns grow over common position for Africa at climate negotiations
Infrastructure needed to help farmers cope with climate change

EU wants firm decisions on legally binding climate agreement

Level of ambition in climate talks a ‘serious concern’ − Zuma

Funding shortfall will not impact COP 17 quality – Minister

POWER GENERATION
SA still attractive to IPP investors despite current poor growth

GREEN BUILDING
Green building council sharpens its focus on training

UNCONVENTIONAL GAS
More technical work needed to define SA’s shale gas framework

GREEN TECHNOLOGY
Climate technology mechanism team concludes first meeting

GREENING JOBURG
196 trees to be planted along Empire BRT route in Joburg

A renewed focus on green energy

2011-09-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

This Mail&Guardian online article gives a good overview of the Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme.

NEWS SNIPPETS

2011-09-03T01:07:00.000-07:00

RENEWABLE ENERGY

SA reports big interest in DoE's renewables tender - Engineering News

Eskom gets new loan for wind project - Engineering News

SOLAR POWER
Solar geyser programme roll-out to be accelerated - Engineering News

GREEN TECHNOLOGY
Climate technology committee kicks off first meeting in Germany - Engineering News

CONSERVATION
Agreement signed to preserve integrity of Mapungubwe - Engineering News

UNCONVENTIONAL GAS
Shell could spend $200m on SA shale gas search - Engineering News

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
Minister invites comments on environmental legislation changes - Engineering News

ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT
Nedbank commits R9m to WWF water programme - Engineering News

CLIMATE CHANGE

UN climate boss says Durban talks can deliver - Engineering News

Innovative climate funding key to low-emission development − UNDP - Engineering News

Nkoana-Mashabane urges labour to support govt’s ambitions for COP 17 - Engineering News

CLIMATE FINANCE
SA to benefit should climate funding target be met, Manuel says - Engineering News

AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR

Greener vehicle manufacturing could prove challenging for SA - Engineering News

SA should step up its biofuels efforts – Toyota - Engineering News

Barrels of radioactive uranium (yellow cake) discovered near Swakop beach

2011-09-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

"Unguarded barrels of radioactive uranium (yellow cake) have been discovered on Swakopmund beach. Near the sewerage works at Tamariskia investigators found 4 barrels." See more on Namibian News Forum

Solar Boat's progress in circumnavigating the globe

2011-09-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Tûranor PlanetSolar vessel recently docked in Hong Kong. "....Designed in New Zealand, built in Germany and flying a Swiss flag, the 102-foot boat has completed about two-thirds of a voyage that began in Monaco last September. So far it has sailed nearly 24,000 miles."

Read more here.

Why GM foods won't solve hunger in Africa

2011-09-02T05:55:00.000-07:00

Recent Renewable Energy Updates Out of Africa

2011-08-25T07:23:00.000-07:00

Check out this "Fresh Air Newsletter" from the African Wind Energy Association. Below is a preview of some of the stories covered:

Tanzania: Expert stresses significance of renewable energy options

Ghana’s Minister of Energy Joins West Africa’s ECREEE

Green light for renewable energy in Namibia

MALI - Constructing their sixth turbine.

First Renewable Energy Exhibition goes online

Beyond Capacity: Why Italy changed its PV Strategy

China’s largest Wind Developer acquires stake in Canadian wind farm

Spain overtakes US with biggest Solar Power Station

World’s first Commercial Wave Power Project

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY - The INgSOC hybrid bike that is out of this world!

Organic At Heart

2011-08-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

Greepeace Africa Receives Feedback From Eskom

2011-08-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Extracted from Greenpeace Africa website:

"In June this year, we unloaded five tons of coal on Eskom’s doorstep. We did this to highlight the fact that coal kills, and to publicly demand that Eskom clean up its act by stopping the construction of Kusile coal-fired power station. One of our latest reports, ‘The Advanced Energy [R]evolution, a sustainable energy outlook for South Africa’, outlines a pathway to a future based on renewable energy, and found that Kusile need not be built at all to keep South Africa’s lights on.

We are asking for three key things from Eskom: stop the construction of Kusile, substantially increase investments in renewable energy, and no investments in any new nuclear projects. In light of the urgency to address climate change, we requested an in-depth meeting with Eskom’s senior experts to discuss our Energy [R]evolution scenario.

This week, we had exactly that technical discussion with Eskom. We wanted to get feedback on the report, but also to better understand the utility’s position on renewables, and the assumptions that Eskom is making when it comes to energy planning in South Africa. We also took the opportunity to explain the solid basis of our Energy [R]evolution scenario, hopefully increasing Eskom’s understanding of our work."

What tar sands and the Keystone XL pipeline mean for climate change

2011-08-24T07:45:00.000-07:00

Environmentalist Bill McKibben was among 100 people arrested at the weekend for protesting against the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. But why are climate campaigners so concerned?

Read more here at Guardian Environment Network.

GBCSA: South Africa's first 5 star Green Star SA rating

2011-08-24T07:40:00.000-07:00

"The GBCSA is thrilled that South Africa has its first 5 star certified building and that Cape Town is on the Green Star SA map

Aurecon’s office building is the first building in South Africa to be awarded a 5 star Green Star SA - Office Design v1 rating by the GBCSA. This building is located in Century City, Cape Town, and nearing completion. The Rabie Property Group developed the building which will serve as Aurecon’s new regional offices for global engineering, management and specialist technical services."

Extracted from GBCSA newsletter, 17 August 2011.

NEWS SNIPPETS

2011-08-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewables bid represents ‘substantive progress’, but raises compliance burden - Engineering News

AUTO INDUSTRY
Golf BlueMotion sets SA fuel record, says VW - Engineering News

URBAN REGENERATION
Green building techniques key to R140m Benoni development - Engineering News

CARBON EMISSIONS
China studying regional CO2 caps – official - Engineering News

WATER
Red lights flash for SA rivers - Engineering News

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
Silicon Smelters fined R3m for contravening environmental laws - Engineering News

CLIMATE CHANGE

Durban unveils low-carbon road map ahead of climate gathering - Engineering News

Business needs stronger voice in global climate negotiations − De Boer - Engineering News

GREEN BUILDING
Greener building techniques begin to gain traction in South Africa - Engineering News

WATER & POWER
SA and Lesotho to build 1 200 MW hydropower plant - Engineering News

SHALE GAS PROSPECTING IN KAROO
Shabangu extends shale gas prospecting moratorium - Engineering News

NEWS SNIPPETS

2011-08-12T05:53:00.000-07:00

CLIMATE CHANGE

Cabinet notes document on national climate change position - Engineering News

Business engaging with government on climate change - Engineering News

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Nersa concurs with renewables bidding process - Engineering News

AUTO INDUSTRY

BMW unveils its electric future; new i8 set to come to JHB motor show - Engineering News

CARBON TAX

UK lobby group urges business carbon price rebate - Engineering News

CARBON CREDITS

Tanzania cookstoves to earn 840 000 voluntary CO2 credits - Engineering News

NEWS SNIPPETS - RENEWABLE ENERGY

2011-08-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

Renewables project developers pore over tender documents - Engineering News

Glitches and pleasant surprises as renewables tender gets under way - Engineering News

SA finally sets renewables bidding process in motion - Engineering News

Japan to mull reform of power system, says PM - Engineering News

Suzlon aims to add market share, eyes South Africa - Engineering News

German solar tracking company eyeing SA market - Engineering News

NEWS SNIPPETS - SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

2011-08-05T06:15:00.000-07:00

New partnerships needed to meet global sustainability targets − Stigson - Engineering News

Cape Town commercial buildings could improve efficiencies - Engineering News

Sustainable infrastructure seen as core to Joburg's 2040 growth vision - Engineering News

NEWS SNIPPETS - CLIMATE TALKS

2011-08-05T06:13:00.000-07:00

Cabinet to consider SA’s COP 17 negotiation stance in Oct - Engineering News

Durban talks unlikely to strike climate deal – UN - Engineering News

Durban COP17 meeting should focus on ‘fair’ climate regime – Molewa - Engineering News

Greenpeace pushes for nuclear-free power mix, big renewable scale-up

2011-08-05T00:27:00.000-07:00

"Nongovernmental organisation (NGO) Greenpeace has called on the government to make “bold and courageous” energy choices, to ensure a cleaner energy future without any additional nuclear and coal-fired power, after construction of the Medupi power station.

This would require a much more ambitious renewable-energy policy, climate campaigner Melita Steele said.

Greenpeace launched its report entitled ‘The advanced energy [R]evolution – a sustainable energy outlook for South Africa’, in Johannesburg on Wednesday, after already having met with Department of Energy (DoE) officials, as well as the Minister, about the report." - Engineering News

GASWALK - Anti-fracking Protest March - Cape Town - 9 August 2011

2011-08-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

A group of Capetonians, initiated by renowned photographer Kian Erikson, has organised GASWALK, a protest march against fracking, in partnership with NPOs Climate Justice Campaign and Earthlife Africa CT.

The procession through the streets of Cape Town will take place on Women's Day, August 9, to raise awareness of the threat that fracking poses to the most vulnerable in society, specifically women and children.

The GASWALK will start at 11h00 from the Natural History Museum in the Company Gardens , where participants will gather from 10h30. The route will proceed down Long Street, turn into Strand Street and back to the Company Gardens via Adderley Street. All are welcome.

City launches home waste recycling pilot

2011-08-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

“The refuse recycling programme Think Twice of the City of Cape Town is finally kicking off in the northern suburbs on Monday 1 August.

This will enable about 44 000 households to do their recycling in the comfort if their own homes. This includes areas north of the N1 – from Bellville east of the Tygerberg Hills to Durbanville, Brackenfell and Kraaifontein and up to, but excluding, the Kraaifontein smallholdings.

Residents have already received letters from the City of Cape Town about the City’s planned separate collection of dry recyclables projects in which residents can apply for a special recycling container in which to put recyclable items.

They can apply for a 130-litre recycling bit at the municipal offices in Durbanville, Kraaifontein or the Bloemhof municipal offices in Bloemhof Street, Bellville from Monday to Friday from 14:00 to 18:00 and on Saturdays and public holidays from 08:00 to 13:00.

These free containers will only be issued to interested residents and are not compulsory. The charcoal container will have wheels and come with a green lid.

The recycling bins will be collected weekly by the City one work day after the official collection day of other household waste.

The project is managed by Waste Plan.

This rollout in the northern suburbs is part of a three-year pilot project to asses the programme’s long-term sustainability and financial viability.

Cape Town’s 3.5 million residents generate up to 6000 tons of waste per day, said Shehaam Sims, the City’s mayoral committee member for utility services.

“With this initiative we can encourage and ensure that not all waste thrown away ends up at a landfile site.” he said.

The recycling bins may only be used for their intended purpose and mixed waste or contaminated recyclables will not be collected, Sims said.

The City has installed radio frequency devices in all bins which will be automatically scanned when serviced, providing the City will valuable data, he said. “All recyclables will be taken to the City’s Kraaifontein Integrated Waste Management facility.” ”

Esme Erasmus

TygerBurger Kraaifontein, Page 11

Wednesday 20 July 2011

Carton recycling creates local jobs

2011-07-30T04:52:00.004-07:00

"The local recycling of juice and milk cartons, produced by packaging company Tetra Pak South Africa, has created 18 jobs and removed the need to ship the recovered cartons to India for recycling, says Tetra Pak South Africa environmental manager Rodney Reynders.

The company signed an agreement with Germiston-based Gayatri Paper Mills, which is a part of the packaging and labelling supplier Golden Era Group, to use hydropulping technology to recycle the cartons and use the fibre to produce board for secondary packaging.

"What we have done with the paper mill has created 18 sustainable, local jobs at a single mill. Before the agreement, we were exporting our recovered cartons to India for recycling. We were exporting valuable fibre instead of reusing it locally,” he says." Engineering News

Kenya approves law to allow GM crops

2011-07-30T04:52:00.003-07:00

"Kenya has become the fourth country in Africa to open up to genetically modified (GM) crops after approving laws to allow their production and importation.

East Africa's leading economy follows South Africa, a leader in the continent on biotechnology and a major exporter of GM maize, as well as Egypt and Burkina Faso, but it faces growing resistance from lobbyists against the move.

In a Legal Notice dated June 22, acting Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Hellen Sambili said the laws would come into effect on July 1, ending restrictions on GM maize and other various products in the country." Engineering News

Delayed Joule project seeks R9bn to produce market-ready vehicle

2011-07-30T04:52:00.002-07:00

"Optimal Energy is seeking around R9-billion to commercialise its home-grown Joule electric vehicle (EV). This includes developing the final product, and securing a local production facility, says CEO Kobus Meiring.

“We are getting there – slowly, but surely,” he notes.

Meiring says it was vital for the Joule project to remain on government’s books, so to speak, when its industrial policy action plan was fine-tuned recently." Engineering News

NEWS SNIPPETS - CLIMATE CHANGE

2011-07-30T04:52:00.001-07:00

Negotiators should resolve political issues ahead of Durban climate talks - Engineering News

Africa to launch own fund to manage climate cash - Engineering News

NEWS SNIPPETS - RENEWABLE ENERGY

2011-07-30T04:52:00.000-07:00

R100bn investment needed to meet SA’s renewable energy aspirations - Engineering News

Renewables tender should be issued next week - DoE - Engineering News

R2bn E Cape wind project passes key enviro, community milestones - Engineering News

Photovoltaic projects being rolled out despite Refit uncertainty - Engineering News

90 renewables firms call for 'frank' dialogue to end procurement uncertainties - Engineering News

Nersa set to concur with DoE on renewables bid process, but raises questions - Engineering News

Govt confirms inclusion of price competition in first renewables round - Engineering News

NEWS SNIPPETS - SOLAR WATER HEATERS / GREEN BUILDING

2011-07-30T04:51:00.002-07:00

Western Cape mulling policy changes to promote use of solar water heaters - Engineering News

New Aurecon office achieves SA’s first 5-star green building rating - Engineering News

Solar water heaters to help improve healthcare in Qunu - Engineering News

NEWS SNIPPETS - WASTE MANAGEMENT / NUCLEAR CLEAN-UP / EMISSIONS

2011-07-30T04:51:00.001-07:00

UN atomic watchdog head lauds Fukushima cleanup - Engineering News

Waste offenders face stiff penalties, but enforcement capacity questioned - Engineering News

SA wants Fukushima lessons integrated into nuclear plan, as IEA warns on emissions - Engineering News

Underground coal gasification has key role to play in Southern Africa - Engineering News

NEWS SNIPPETS - ELECTRICITY CONSERVATION / ENERGY EFFICIENCY

2011-07-30T04:51:00.000-07:00

SAB has cut power use by 17% since 2008 crisis - Engineering News

SA could see its first hybrid power station after Kusile - Engineering News

New energy efficient data centre could save Vodacom R1m a year - Engineering News

MTN ‘greening’ initiatives cut head office power usage by 37% - Engineering News

Public Works reviewing draft green building framework - Engineering News

UN sees small-scale farming as future

2011-07-29T05:56:00.000-07:00

" Governments must strive to make a major shift towards small-scale farming if endemic food crises are to be overcome and the production boosted to support the global population, according to the UN.

In its annual World Economic and Social Survey, released yesterday, the UN said a transformation from large-scale and intensive systems of agriculture was vital if growing environmental and land degradation was to be avoided.

The food crisis of 2007/8 and a price spike this year “have revealed deep structural problems in the global food system and the need to increase resources and innovation in agriculture as to accelerate food production”, it said.

Food production would have to increase by between 70 percent and 100 percent by 2050 to sustain a world population that would have grown by 35 percent from the present 6.9 billion to around 9 billion by that time.

“With current agricultural technology, practices and land use patterns, this cannot be achieved without further contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution and land degradation,” the UN said.

In its turn, the resulting environmental degradation would undermine any growth in food productivity.

Of the 925 million people – nearly a seventh of the population – who are undernourished, 98 percent live in developing countries.

The survey said that achieving food security would provide a long-term solution to hunger and malnutrition, easing price volatility and protecting the environment.

“The main challenge is to improve incentives so that they promote and lead to the development of sustainable agriculture by small farm holders,” the survey said.

“Evidence has shown that for most crops the optimal farm is small in scale and that it is at this level that most gain in terms of both sustainable productivity increases and rural poverty reduction can be achieved.” –Reuters "

Cape Times July 2011

Robert Evans

Geneva

Local guide being developed for ‘green leasing’

2011-07-02T01:50:00.000-07:00

"Research by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) and the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) has shown that South African tenants and landlords are starting to request “green leases”.

To this end, a working group of members from the GBCSA and Sapoa has been established to jointly develop a guide to green leasing.

A green lease, explains GBCSA executive chairperson Bruce Kerswill, lays out certain contractual lease obligations between a landlord and a tenant of a building, that require or encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly practices." Engineering News

Greenpeace protestors dump 5 t of coal outside Eskom head office

2011-07-02T01:49:00.001-07:00

"Nongovernmental organisation (NGO) Greenpeace has staged a demonstration dumping five tons of coal on the doorstep of power utility Eskom’s head office, Megawatt Park, in Johannesburg.

The NGO demanded that Eskom “clean up its act” and stop the construction of the Kusile coal-fired power station near Delmas in Mpumalanga.

“Eskom should end its addiction to coal and shift massive investments to large-scale renewable energy projects,” said the organisation." Engineering News