More News

Next phase of solar geyser roll-out to incorporate greater local content - Engineering News

Wind-energy developer teams up with E Cape traditional leaders - Engineering News

Key developing country bloc puts climate ball back in rich-country court - Engineering News

IDC studies large-scale SA manufacture of lithium-ion batteries - Engineering News

Algal biofuels seen as having potential, but much research still needed - Engineering News

SA could learn lessons from Israel’s 
solar successes - Engineering News

News in a Rush

Eskom aims to secure balance of funding for wind, solar projects this year - Engineering News

Japanese Embassy switches to solar power - Engineering News

Peters promises cleaner-fuels ‘roadmap' by December - Engineering News

More cohesion on climate change ‘urgently’ needed – China - Engineering News

President Zuma to kick-start big solar-geyser drive - Engineering News

R5,3bn energy efficiency incentive confirmed - Engineering News

Greater carbon reduction urgency needed, expert says - Engineering News

Include Parliament in 'every step' of climate policy process – MP - Engineering News

Earthlife Africa Demonstration Outside Parliament Earlier Today

Earthlife Africa demonstrated against a nuclear and coal future and for a clean energy future for SA in front of Parliament in Cape Town today. Earthlife Africa handed over "information from civil society about the economics of our power choices today; approaches to a future sustainable economy; and information that can assist many energy struggles today", This action was "joined by: AIDC; SA Water Caucus; Carbon Trade Watch; Trade Strategy Group; Climate Justice Now!; SA Coalition for Environmental Justice", Free Life on Earth, and more. Click here to read a copy of the letter submitted by our chairman, David, regarding grid-tie inverters and solar water geysers.

Planes or Volcano? Which Emitts More CO2 into the Atmosphere?

Check out this interesting diagram.

Eskom's Secret Deals Revealed

This Renewed Energy Post is worth the read.

New EIA Regulations to be Published Soon

Read more here, on Engineering News.

Separate Power Transmission Company to be Formed Soon

This Engineering News article informs us that "The long-anticipated unbundling of the power transmission business from State-owned electricity utility Eskom might finally take place over the coming months as the Independent Systems and Market Operator, or ISMO, emerges as a separate entity."... and... "Engineering News Online understands that the legal framework for the creation of the ISMO should be outlined soon, and could well be in place by early 2011." We hope that this new entity will truly be an independent decision-making entity and that this is not going to be nothing more than 'shuffling of paper'!

Renewable Energy Partnership Launched on Weds

This Engineering News article follows Saturday's post about the financial boost received from Finland and Austria. The RE partnership of Southern and East Africa countries (South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia)is called the Energy and Environment Partnership programme with Southern and East Africa (EEP-SE&A) and it was officially launched on Wednesday the 14th of April 2010. Read more here, on Engineering News.

SA Lagging Behind in Clean Energy Projects

This Engineering News article reveals: "Some of the potential project developers are reluctant because of that ...there is need for a new protocol or a new accord. The previous Copenhagen accord did not come up with a new protocol (beyond) 2012."

According to Tuwani, South Africa has 17 CDM projects registered to date, of which only four have been issued with CERs. The top two nations in the scheme, according to UN figures, are China with 787 projects and India with 498." Read more here.

Feedback from Latest UN Climate Change Talks - Bonn, Germany

"The first round of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks for the year concluded on Sunday with an agreement to intensify the negotiating schedule to enable a strong outcome in the Mexico meeting at the end of the year." Source: Engineering News (read more here.)

City of Cape Town to Soon Sell "Green Electricity" Certificates

An update (dated 24 March 2010) on the selling of 'green' electricity certificates from Darling Wind Farm by the City of Cape Town to interested parties can be read on the City of Cape Town's website here.

First Annual Climate Change Leadership Awards

Although this bit of news is a bit old, if you are interested, you can find details of the winners of the First Annual Climate Change Leadership Awards 2010, here.

Two new wind projects on the cards for Eastern Cape

Source: Engineering News - "Independent power producer (IPP) Rainmaker Energy plans to add 610 MW of wind-generated electricity to South Africa’s power grid through the development of two new projects in the Eastern Cape.

The company was working on developing a 550-MW wind farm, called the Dorper project, near Molteno, and another 60-MW wind farm, called the AB’s project, near Indwe." Read more at Engineering News.

Some Thoughts on the Approval of the World Bank Loan to Eskom

This article, written by Mark Swilling and published in the Cape Times on 7 April 2010, is worth the read.

Boost for RE in Africa - from Europe

European countries, Germany, Finland and Austria are ploughing more money into boosting renewable energy development in SA and Africa.

Germany gives SA €70m for energy - Engineering News

Southern and East Africa renewable projects get €10m boost - Engineering News

News Snippets

World Bank Approves controversial Eskom Loan - Engineering News

Green building council to launch retail rating tool this month - Engineering News

Draft IRP2 Consultation Process

This Engineering News article gives some insight regarding the consultation process (for the second draft Integrated (Energy) Resource Plan) set to begin this month (April) and carry on through to May. "..., Minister Peters promised that the plan [IRP1], which was coal and Eskom heavy, would be followed up by a more comprehensive plan [IRP2], which would be broadly consulted and would spell out the detail of South Africa's energy mix for next 20 years, including the role of renewables, nuclear, independent power producers and imports." "...the Department of Energy (DoE) has also called on all interested parties to register on a stakeholder database for inclusion in the IRP2 consultation process..."

Successful Test Flight for Solar Plane

Read this BBC News article: "A prototype solar-powered plane has made its first full test flight - coming closer to the goal of using solar energy to fly around the world."

National Air Quality Act Come into Full Effect on 1 April 2010

Read more here, on The Citizen. "The act requires the national environment minister or an MEC to “identify and publish activities which result in atmospheric emissions that requires an atmospheric emission licence before they can operate”, the department said in a statement."

Some Thoughts on World Bank Loan to Eskom

Read this Renewed Energy blog post about the proposed World Bank loan to Eskom to fund new coal-fired power stations in South Africa. [Link to sign Avaaz's petition against the granting of the World Bank Loan: http://www.avaaz.org/en/no_eskom_coal_loan/?cl=520250123&v=5638]

Clarity on REFIT Selection Criteria Seeked

This Engineering News article reports: "The National Energy Regulator of South Africa's (Nersa's) renewable energy feed-in tariff (Refit) programme's project selection criteria required more clarity, renewable energy associations said on Tuesday."

UN List Reveals over 110 Nations back Copenhagen Accord

This Engineering News article reports that the (first formal) recently released UN list of nations backing the Copenhagen Accord shows that over 110 nations back it.

Darling Wind Farm Expanding?

This Legalbrief report states: "The company behind the Darling Wind Farm has announced that the plant will be expanded by next year, creating a farm with 20 turbines, says a Cape Argus report." [no further details available at this stage]