US intelligence sees global water conflict risks rising - Engineering News
South Africa urges EU suspend airline carbon scheme - Engineering News
Basil Read eyes big energy growth as it submits solar bid - Engineering News
SA may turn to private sector for help with mine-water pollution - Engineering News
Alstom open to wind-energy acquisitions - CEO - Engineering News
Sanral SA’s first parastatal to achieve Green Star rating - Engineering News
Minister says short-term AMD plan sufficient, but more needs to be done - Engineering News
Anglo Zimele reports substantial interest in Green Fund - Engineering News
Eskom says credit warning shows cost-reflectivity push still needed - Engineering News
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Small wind market has big potential, report shows
" The small wind power market holds “enormous potential”, especially for nonelectrified areas in developing countries, yet only a handful of governments are offering specific support policies for small wind generating capacity, the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) said in a report this week.
“Wherever the wind blows, small wind turbines can provide electricity at affordable prices to local citizens, be it for rural electrification, like in China or in other developing countries or, connected to the grid, like often in the industrialised countries,” WWEA president He Dexin said." Source and read more here.
“Wherever the wind blows, small wind turbines can provide electricity at affordable prices to local citizens, be it for rural electrification, like in China or in other developing countries or, connected to the grid, like often in the industrialised countries,” WWEA president He Dexin said." Source and read more here.
African E-Waste 'Call to Action' on Regulation & Standards
"Representatives from 18 African states, the United Nations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the private sector and academia have agreed on a set of priority actions for reducing the environmental and health impacts of growing levels of e-waste in Africa." Source and more here.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
SABS introduces energy efficiency labelling standard for appliances
"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
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
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
"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
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
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
New SA wind atlas to help with renewables site selection
"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.
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.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Press Release: Earthlife Africa Cape Town - Nuclear
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.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Nuclear Barrels in Cape Town
"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.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
South African Fuel-Free Generator Preparing for Market
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
"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
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.
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
"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
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
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
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
Thursday, March 1, 2012
South Africa's 2012 Budget Speech and the Environment
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.
"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.
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