Municipal power tariffs come under the spotlight as July 1 deadline looms

Read more here, Engineering News. "The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) will host a public hearing on June 3 into applications by those municipalities applying for average tariff increases above the guideline of 19% and 22%, which could be implemented from July 1."

French farmers turn Champs-Elysees into huge farm

This BBC news article reports: "One of Paris's main thoroughfares, the Champs-Elysees, has been covered in earth and turned into a huge green space in an event staged by young French farmers. "

Alstom invests $55m in solar company BrightSource

This Engineering News article tells: "French engineering group Alstom has invested $55-million in solar thermal tower producer BrightSource Energy, as the group sought to enter the high-growth solar energy market."

Eastern Cape wind turbine connected to grid

This Engineering News article reports: "The first turbine of the Coega wind farm project in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality (NMBM) in the Eastern Cape has been erected and was being connected to the grid on Friday."

SA starts work on green-economy strategy

This Engineering News article informs us: "Participants at the Green Economy summit in Johannesburg, on Thursday committed to drawing up a ‘Green Economy Plan' by the end of July, which will outline the work required to develop the key elements of a green-economy strategy." A draft statement of conclusion was drawn up by the summit which is available for public comment. To find out more, visit the Summit's website here.

News in a Flash

Green energy sector could create 300 000 jobs – Patel - Engineering News

Joule electric car developer signs MOUs, determines likely pricing - Engineering News

SA should switch to a sustainable transport system - Engineering News

SA mulls the costs, benefits of transition to green economy - Engineering News

SA should take advantage of multibillion rand green economy potential - Engineering News

Govt calls for open discussion with industry to advance clean energy - Engineering News

Cheap, clean energy in Africa given $12m boost - Engineering News - "The World Bank and International Finance Corporation have budgeted $12-million to begin weaning Africa's off-grid energy market away from its dependence on expensive fuel-based lighting, an official said on Tuesday.

The programme, Lighting Africa, targets low-cost renewable energy sources, such as solar-powered lanterns, to reach the 700-million Africans they say will be without electricity by 2030."

UN to pick Costa Rican as new climate chief – sources

This Engineering News article informs us that "Figueres, 53, beat fellow short-listed candidate former South African Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, to a role meant to rally global agreement on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol after a disappointing summit in Copenhagen in December."..."Figueres has been a member of the Costa Rican climate negotiating team since 1995 and has held many senior posts in the UN climate process. Her father, Jose Figueres Ferrer, was President of Costa Rica three times."..."She has been negotiator for a country that aims to become carbon-neutral by 2021. This is what we need on the global stage," said Wendel Trio, Greenpeace International climate policy coordinator."

News Snippets

Solar car race on the cards for September - Engineering News - "South Africa’s second solar challenge will take place from September 26 to October 6."..."AEF chairperson Winstone Jordaan says the race will start in Pretoria, using the N1 freeway to reach Cape Town, switching to the N2 to travel to Durban, then moving on to more interesting back roads to again reach the Jacaranda city."

New SA energy plan running behind schedule – DDG - Engineering News

Eskom at ‘severe' regulatory risk from climate change – study - Engineering News - "...the overall thrust of the study, which has been released just days before government hosts ‘South Africa's Green Economy Summit', which will take place in Johannesburg from May 18 to May 20, is a highlighting of the fact that climate change has "moved from an issue of environmental concern to an issue of commercial significance"."

Basil Read invests R2,5m in solar power for head office - Engineering News - "Civil engineering and construction group Basil Read on Thursday unveiled a 240-panel solar photovoltaic installation, which provides about 25% of the power requirement at the company's head office in Boksburg."

SA shows strong growth in green building, energy efficiency – Legrand - Engineering News - "French electrical automation company Legrand said on Thursday that even though South Africa was still a relatively "newcomer" to the green building industry, the market had shown significant growth over the past three years."

Africa losing billions in clean energy deals - Engineering News - "Africa stood to loose billions of dollars because a lack of economic incentives and inadequate regulatory regimes made the continent unattractive for wind power companies, a top industry official said on Thursday."

Solar News

JHB roads agency to roll out solar power to 50 more intersections - Source: Engineering News

First solar geysers by June from new E Cape plant - Engineering News

Largest ‘Green Electricity’ Certificate purchase statement to date

Since the City of Cape Town have started selling 'green' electricity certificates (find out more here), we have now learned that the City is handing over the largest 'green electricity' certificate purchase statement to date at the Wind Power Africa 2010 Conference being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 12 to 14 May 2010 (find out more here).

Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, Alderman Clive Justus, will present Hermann Oelsner of the African Wind Energy Association with the statement which confirms that 9900 kWh of Green Electricity Certificates have been purchased.

Lesotho plant supplies first million CFLs to Eskom

Read more here, on Engineering News.

Eastern Cape wind farm to supply power to World Cup stadium

This Engineering News article reports: "The 25-turbine Coega wind farm project in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) in the Eastern Cape, was officially launched by Energy Minister Dipuo Peters on Tuesday." and it is hoped that the first turbine will be up and running in time to "provide energy for the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium during the 2010 FIFA World Cup - free of charge."

Thin Film Solar Cells - New Developments

This Simply Green article highlights recent developments resulting in improved efficiency of this technology and a cheaper, faster, cleaner and less cumbersome way of manufacturing thin film solar cells.

Co2 Storage Guidelines Published (Norway)

Should be interesting to inspect these guidelines apparently made available freely on the website of Det Norske Veritas. Read more here.

Van Schalkwyk to be new UN Climate Chief? Cont'...

Read more here, on Engineering News.

The False Argument of Job Creation or Change to a Low Carbon Economy

This Engineering News article highlights the two sides of the coin. While continuing down the carbon path may resolve short term job creation issues, what will happen in the long haul and shouldn't the quality of jobs also be considered?

The article reports Peet Du Plooy, the head of sustainable development at Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (Tips) warning "that South Africa's very competitiveness as an economy was at stake, as the market access for its goods and services could, in future, be constrained by the carbon-intensive nature of production processes."

"He argued that the transition to a lower-carbon economy could well be key to both protecting jobs, as well as to creating new ones."

Extension of Comment Period for Nuclear 1

The public comment period for Eskom's proposed nuclear power station dubbed "Nuclear 1"'s draft Environmental Impact report has been extended to 31 May 2010. Find out more here.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in Mauritius

This Engineering News article tells that "Supercharge is a private company which plans to roll out and operate the infrastructure to support electric vehicles in Mauritius."

Energy leaders to gather in May for two-day summit

Engineering News informed us about this planned event. Read more here. "A limited number of delegate day passes are still available and those interested in taking them up can contact Dylan James at, dylan@capemedia.co.za, or by phoning 021 681 7000."

GM's electric networked concept car

This Engineering News article informs us about a new concept electric networked vehicle (EN-V)developed by General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). "EN-V provides an “ideal solution for urban mobility that enables future driving to be 
free from petroleum and emissions, free from congestion and accidents, and more fun and 
fashionable than ever before”, says GM China Group president and MD Kevin Wale."

News Snippets

Solar energy system to power Diepsloot skills centre - Engineering News - "The City of Johannesburg (CoJ), the Department of Mineral Resources and cement manufacturer Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) on Thursday launched the Diepsloot skills development centre solar energy system, a R1,7-million project consisting of 75 photovoltaic panels to provide the centre with electricity."

SA could be a global leader in greening the built environment – Doidge - Engineering News - "Public Works Minister Geoff Doidge on Thursday reiterated a "call for action" to move towards a ‘greener' built environment - which would need leadership from government, as well as expertise and innovation from industry.

Addressing delegates gathered at the alive2green green building conference in Johannesburg, Doidge said that there was no reason why South Africa could not be an international leader in greening the built environment, as it had the technical and manufacturing capacity."

Areva keen to enter SA solar power industry - Engineering News

Business seeks outcomes-based engagement on SA energy crisis - Engineering News