Cape Residents Say No to New Nuclear Power Plant

This IOL report tells how residents of Bantamsklip staged a protest march in Hermanus on Saturday, 19th December, opposing Eskom's plans to build "...two 4 000MW nuclear power plants at this site which is a registered South African Natural Heritage Site and contains vegetation that occurs nowhere else in the world."

UN Climate Change Conference Outcome

A political 'deal' brokered at Copenhagen over the weekend has been dubbed the Copenhagen Accord. The Accord is not legally binding but "'recognises' the scientific case for keeping temperature rises to no more than 2C but does not contain commitments to emissions reductions to achieve that goal." "The deal was brokered between China, South Africa, India, Brazil and the US, but late last night it was unclear whether it would be adopted by all 192 countries in the full plenary session. The deal aims to provide $30bn a year for poor countries to adapt to climate change from next year to 2012, and $100bn a year by 2020." "The agreement also set up a forestry deal which is hoped would significantly reduce deforestation in return for cash. It lacked the kind of independent verification of emission reductions by developing countries that the US and others demanded." Source: Guardian UK This BBC news article offers a brief overview of the deal. Also have a look at this BBC Q&A about COP15/climate change. Now it appears that hopes are being pinned on a follow-up meeting in Mexico planned to take place in about a year's time. Interestingly, this article dated 27 November 2009 accurately spells out the outcome of Cop15. Does the outcome surprise you at all?

"Greening" your Xmas (& New Year!)

Also rushing around with last minute shopping? Have a look at this Urban Sprout article which gives some 'green' gift ideas. All we will add to this is: 1. Reduce the amount of junk you buy - who really wants all that gimicky stuff? Make your gifts meaningful - they don't necessarily have to be shop-bought! - e.g. what about giving fresh organic produce which you have grown in your garden? 2. PLEASE, try and buy local! Stay away from the "Made in China"s for a change! One of the most important things we as consumers can do is support local business and sustainable industries - remember, it is good for our ecomony and jobs! So, while you're out there shopping - check your labels... do some investigating and while you're at it, teach your children! and make this a new habit to take with you into the new year! 3. One other thing, don't buy gift wrapping paper! Re-use gift bags, newspaper, cardboard boxes, etc - add your own personal touch - maybe a sprig of fresh rosemary or lavender - be creative! 4. As for greeting cards, if you don't make your own, buy some from someone like Joseph Diliza - check out all the great things he makes here on his blog. [Joseph employs women in his township to help him with making items out of recycled waste and to make paper/paper products using alien reeds growing along side the rivers around Khayelitsha and Crossroads.] Oh, one more thing, 5. I found a great little shop called "In a Nutshell" at N1 City Mall and CapeGate. They sell the most wonderful locally made jams and other speciality foods. They don't yet have a website, but please do visit one of their shops (if you are in the area). 6. Capetonians, check out Capetown's Green Map for more ideas of where to buy 'green' in Cape Town. Happy 'conscious' shopping!

Standard Bank Buys Carbon Emission Reductions from China

This Engineering News article tells us that "In terms of the agreement, Standard Bank will purchase the carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions generated by Guodian Power's three newly-built hydropower plants located in north-eastern China." What do you think about this?

Cop15 Update

Here is the latest BBC News report on what has been happening at Copenhagen. Also, this recent Cop15 article tells how Bolivia's President is calling for the Capitalist system to be changed.

News in a Rush

SA is gearing up to produce batteries for electric vehicles - Engineering News

Eskom's proposed rate of return to come under scrutiny during NERSA's January hearings - Engineering News

Clean energy could be third-largest industrial sector by 2020 - report - Engineering News. This article informs us: "The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) this week released a report predicting that by 2020 the clean energy technology industry would be worth €1,6-trillion a year - ranking behind automobiles and electronics as the third-largest industrial sector." and quotes WWF's Donald Pols saying “Forgoing these opportunities for the sake of propping up an aging, polluting fossil fuel sector for as long as its lobbying power remains significant is acting for vested interests not the national interest,”. Also see this Engineering News article: Renewable Energy could be an engine of growth for Africa.

Soros Proposes $100bn fund to unlock climate talks - Engineering News

Focused use of ICT could eliminate 5,8bn t of emissions by 2020 - Engineering News - This article tells how: "Information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology research and analysis company, International Data Corporation (IDC) on Thursday released a report on the role information communication technologies (ICTs) could play to eliminate almost 5,8-billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2020."

Growing vs Buying Food - The Economics of Fermentation

Planting Season recently forwarded a BRILLIANT article to me which I must share with all of you. It is a bit long, but very well worth the read. You can find it here, on Wild Fermentation. It was written by Charles Eisenstein - Originally appreared in Wise Traditions Magazine.

Imagine!

This Urban Sprout article is well worth the read, providing some exciting examples of global 'green' projects that are successfully operating around the world. It highlights what room South Africa has to do similar projects and asks the question, 'Why aren't we!?'

Scientist Stumble Upon "Self Cleaning Solar" Discovery

Read more here, on Discovery News.

Latest from Copenhagen

This Mail & Guardian report is worth the read. It also gives a brief description of some of the leading 'dealmakers'.

South Africa: Environmental Liability in the Context of Historical Pollution

A recent International Law Office article highlighted the "ongoing debate on whether the [South Africa's] National Environmental Management Act extends to liability for historical environmental pollution or degradation that pre-dates the act. The High Court recently held that the provisions are not retrospective and, accordingly, the obligation to take corrective measures does not apply where pollution and degradation were caused or began before the date of commencement of the act." Source: International Law Office

Latest Electric Car to Keep "skin young-looking"

This Engineering News article reports on a partnership formed between a skin care company and Renault to develop a new electric concept car which “boasts the finest in air filtration and purification technology to fully protect the health of passengers and keep their skin young-looking”.

News in a Rush

ESKOM
After Eskom "lowered its request for a tariff increase to 35% a year from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2013, down from 45% a year.", it has now been announced that NERSA has extended the deadline for comments to 14 December 2009. Source: Engineering News.

Government at fault for inertia aroud power crisis structures (Engineering News)

Cosatu threaten to strike over Eskom Price Hike (Engineering News)

Eskom Tariff Hike will Dent Growth and Job Creation (Engineering News)

Eskom's plans to 'improve efficiency' at 3 coal fired power plants to extend service life. - Read more here, on Engineering News

COP15

Legal expert says draft climate proposal not unusual as 'leaked text' sparks anger (Engineering News)

Poor demand more from rich to unlock climate talks (Engineering News)

SA announces emissions target as climate talks start [Engineering News] The article states: "South Africa will undertake mitigation actions which will result in a deviation below the current emissions baseline of around 34% by 2020 and by around 42% by 2025. This level of effort enables the country's emissions to peak between 2020 and 2025, plateau for about a decade and decline in absolute terms thereafter, said the Presidency in a statement.

This undertaking would be conditional upon a fair agreement at the Copenhagen climate change talks and finance, technology and capacity building assistance from the developed nations to developing countries."

World Press Urges Action on Climate Change [Engineering News]

Accountants call for global standard on climate reporting (Engineering News)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Clear Regulations needed to help SA unlock vast wind power potential (Engineering News) The article states: "A recent technical study undertaken to estimate the scale of the country’s wind resource showed that South Africa has enough economically viable wind energy sites to generate 184-Terawatt hours (TWh) of indigenous, sustainable energy."..."This study, once again, proves that we have a significant wind resource in the country. In order to deliver on our long-term energy future we need to take immediate action." ..."“There’s nothing new to this. There’s already 150 GW of wind energy installed around the globe and its growing by 30 GW a year, employing over 400 000 people worldwide. This is a highly reliable, competitive and scalable form of power generation with zero long-term fuel risks and highly predictable long-term power generation capabilities,”"

German Backed Solar Water Heater Training Facility Launched in Soweto [Engineering News]

Social Partners will have say on Future Energy Mix [Engineering News] Interestingly, this article mentions "...the council argued that the creation of a "nonconflicted" independent system and market operator (ISMO) should be prioritised. The ISMO would be the agency mandated to contract with independent power producers (IPPs), rather than Eskom, which was currently the designated single buyer of IPP power."

Lab Grown Meat

What are your thoughts on the recent news that scientists are 'growing' meat in the lab!? Click here to read more and to see some of the comments posted so far on Treehugger's website.

Cop15 Has Arrived

Negotiations are set to begin today at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The people representing South Africa at the Conference are: 1. Our President, Jacob Zuma, 2. Ministers of Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica, 3. International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and 4. senior representatives of the South African government. This Engineering News article gives a summary of what is expected and also provides the WWF's view on "ten elements that needed to be dealt with in the final outcome of the Copenhagen process and that must be covered by a clear decision on the Copenhagen Climate Deal."

Loads of News!

CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM PROJECT LAUNCHED IN CAPE TOWN [Engineering News]
2000 Low income houses are to benefit from this project. The Kuyasa Project (not a new name), is receiving R25m to use towards interventions such as "the installation of solar energy heaters, the retrofitting of compact fluorescent light bulbs, and the introduction of ceiling insulation."


DEDICATED ENVIRONMENTAL COURTS TO BE ESTABLISHED SOONER THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED
This Engineering News article provides stats regarding the increased amount of environmental cases and the poor conviction rate. It is hoped that the new dedicated environmental courts (now to be established within the "next 6 months") will help to mitigate the situation.

SA CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS RECEIVE $500M GLOBAL BACKING [Engineering News]
This article states that: "The South Africa plan includes using CTF financing for:
- The reduction of the high capital cost associated with the construction and operation of Eskom's proposed 100-MW concentrated solar power project, planned for Upington in the Northern Cape.
- The development of the first utility-scale wind power plant, consisting of a 100-MW Eskom wind farm in the Western Cape Province Wind Energy Facility.
- Pioneering private sector wind projects of a further 100 MW and creating a robust pipeline of large-scale wind projects.
- Supporting municipalities and the private sector in the deployment of solar water heaters (SWHs), with a target of achieving 50% of the South African government goal of converting one-million households from electric geysers to SWHs over five years.
- Scaling up energy efficiency investments by catalysing the expansion of bank lending to the commercial and industrial sectors through lines of credit to commercial banks and addressing barriers to energy -efficiency investments."


CLIMATE TALKS LEADING UP TO COPENHAGEN
With just about four days to go before the commencement of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, we refer you to some recent news headlines in this regard: SA meets with Brazil, China and India ahead of Copenhagen Talks This article reports that: "South Africa wanted an ambitious and legally binding two-track outcome from Copenhagen. One track was that developed countries take on ambitious targets for the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, and the second was that developed nations comply with their convention obligations on adaptation, finance and technology." [Source: Engineering News].

OBAMA TO 'SHOW FACE' EARLY AT COPENHAGEN, BUT WON'T BE THERE FOR FINAL NEGOTIATIONS
Read more here, on Engineering News.

LOOKING AT CHINA AND THE USA's RECENTLY ANNOUNCED GHG EMISSION REDUCTION TARGETS
USA: "United States will pledge in Copenhagen to cut its greenhouse gas emissions roughly 17% below 2005 levels by 2020, a drop of about 3% below the 1990 benchmark year used in UN treaties."
CHINA: "China, the world's top emitter of greenhouse gases from human activity, pledged to cut the amount of carbon dioxide emitted for each unit of GDP by 40% to 45 %percent by 2020, compared with 2005 levels, the official Xinhua agency quoted the State Council, China's cabinet, as saying."
[Source: Engineering News]

LATEST ESKOM NEWS / SA ENERGY NEWS

ESKOM'S AMENDED TARIFF APPLICATION
Earlier this week, it was announced that Eskom has reduced its most recent tariff hike increase application from 45% to 35%. NERSA is still to announce its decision in this regard. This Engineering News article gives some of the mixed reactions received to this bit of news.

COAL FIRED POWER STATIONS
The articles mentioned below highlight the rising cost of coal fired power stations in South Africa.
KUSILE - Eskom to sell up to 30% stake in Kusile in bid to secure up to R40bn in private equity [Source: Engineering News]. This article is also worth the read because it outlines what is new in Eskom's application to NERSA. It also points out that Eskom is ditching its plans for a 3rd coal fired power station and delaying other projects (nuclear/wind). Also read: Kusile project to be delayed by a year [Source: Engineering News].
MEDUPI - Medupi's capital costs likely to swell beyond R125bn [Source: Engineering News]. Also see this older Engineering News article confirming the details of the African Development Bank loan for this project. Also see this article: R124bn Medupi price-tag another indication of Kusile's vulnerability as Eskom finalises tariff request [Source: Engineering News].

COMMENT PERIOD FOR ESKOM'S TARIFF INCREASE APPLICATION - Under Nersa's approved timelines, public hearings were scheduled to take place across all provinces from January 11, 2010, to January 22, 2010, with a final decision to be made on February 24. [Source: Engineering News].

OUR SUMMARY: It seems Eskom is scaling down in all respects. Strangely, this coincides with me receiving a document claiming to be South Africa's Intergrated Resource Plan for Electricity to be brought before Cabinet (unconfirmed!)[view the document here, file size: 1MB]. It is clear from this document that there are big plans for nuclear in SA. Minister Dipuo Peters (SA Minister of Energy) reportedly said the following in a speech at the Seminar of Nuclear Power: Sheraton Hotel, Pretoria, Tshwane, 20 November 2009: ..."We need to decide whether to build coal fired or nuclear power stations."..."Coal has clearly become a difficult option as carbon emission taxes could be imposed going forward. Accordingly we have drafted the integrated resource plan for the country. This will clearly spell out the road map into the future and it will be adapted as and when circumstances requires us to do so."..."The energy sector of the economy has within it a chance to respond to the desire to create sustainable jobs."..."The nuclear energy expansion programme will require specialized skills. This requires nuclear technical capacity such as engineers and Scientists. The consolidation and co-ordination of education, training and development initiatives to produce the number of skills required for the programme."..."We have been struggling, as a country to create an industrial base that has the possibility to be part and parcel of the international supply chain of much larger industrial players. If there is an industry that is capable of doing this: it is the nuclear industry."..."We remain firmly committed to the realisation of the vision of catapulting our country into the mainstream of industrial and technological innovation. Accordingly, in order to achieve a sustainable nuclear programme and to obtain the potential economic benefits, we are investigating the re-establishment of the complete nuclear fuel cycle. In this regard, Necsa is currently conducting feasibility studies."..."It is indeed true that the experience at Chernobyl and Nagasaki may have given nuclear skeptics an opportunity to criticize the nuclear programme commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear and nearly 25 years of experience at Koeberg has clearly demonstrated that we have the capacity to manage nuclear generation plants successfully and I am convinced we shall do the same with the next generation of nuclear plants that we will surely build."

NORWAY RECOMMENDS A 'SOUTHERN AFRICAN POWER POOL' FOR SA
Read more here, on Engineering News.

MORE MONEY (FROM FRANCE) FOR CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE R&D IN SA
Read more here, at Engineering News.

ETC,...

ANOTHER HOSPITAL IN GUATENG GETS SOLAR WATER HEATING UPGRADE THANKS TO NETCARE
In one of our earlier posts we told you about what's been done at Pretoria's Netcare Moot Hospital (solar powered aircon). This new Engineering News article tells us about the Union Hospital receiving R1,6m for solar water heating (installation started in Sept09).

FIFA 2010 GREEN GOAL LAUNCHED - Read more here, on News24.

Cost of Solar Panels will fall Quicker Than Expected

...or, atleast, in Europe according to this BBC News article which reports that the EU Energy Institute claims that the cost of solar panels will fall due to the extended lifespan of the panels. It further indicates [as our common sense would also tell us] that the cost will continue to drop as demand increases and the industry grows. The article also refers to the term 'grid parity': "A key goal for solar is what is known as grid parity. That is the point when it is as cheap for someone to generate power on their homes as it is to buy it from the grid." Professor Wim Sinke, from Utrecht University in the Netherlands also told BBC News that: "The target of the sector as a whole is to reach grid parity in almost all of Europe over the next 10 years. So by 2020 we should have grid parity in most of Europe,".