Africa Energy Indaba’s Post

[ENERGY]: Africa’s energy sector is on the cusp of a major transformation, and transmission infrastructure is at the forefront of this shift. As countries invest in large-scale power generation and renewable energy projects, robust transmission networks are essential for connecting these new energy sources to the grid and improving access across the continent. #energy #transmissioninfrastructure #renewableenergy #africa

South Africa needs to urgently and sustainably solve the lack of suitable electricity supply for its ever increasing electricity demand. Load shedding needs to end, and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) should provide a roadmap for achieving this. In October 2019, in response the country’s energy generation challenges, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) published the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019, setting out South Africa’s energy generation plans for the next 11 years. At that point, renewable energy projects were proposed to provide in excess of 25 gigawatts (GW) of new generation by 2030, to offset the decommissioning of Eskom’s aging coal plants. According to the DMRE, the IRP “is a living plan that is expected to be continuously revised and updated as necessitated by changing circumstances.” Accordingly, in January 2024, the DMRE released the draft IRP 2023 for public comment. Click to read the full article. Author: Bonga Maliwa https://lnkd.in/dZv3idS8

Between 2018 and 2023, Canada’s renewable energy grew by 1.4 percent and was valued at roughly C$38.3 billion last year. Here are the 10 largest renewable energy stocks in Canada. https://lnkd.in/gDbR68Ar

A recent study examining grid access challenges in South Africa suggests that the country could benefit from adopting international best practices to develop “efficient, transparent and fair” grid access queueing mechanisms for renewable energy projects. https://lnkd.in/dXrfV-3A

WIND NEWS: South Africa set for massive changes as energy market pivots, renewable energy grows South Africa will need about 150 GW of renewable-energy generation and associated transmission infrastructure by 2050, meaning it needs to build about 6 GW of renewable-energy capacity each year. It currently has about 6.4 GW of renewable energy generation in operation, about 3 GW of embedded private renewable generation and about 9 GW of registered renewable-nergy projects, of which about 4 GW to 6 GW is under construction, speakers highlighted during a 'South Africa's Renewable Energy Investment Report Card' webinar, hosted by Creamer Media, on September 11. Read more, Engineering News: https://lnkd.in/d4MQedHe. #windaba2024 #sawea #windresilience #leadingwithwind

MARKET EXPANSION: Today, we are proud to announce our expansion in the South African #renewable #energy market, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainable energy solutions. This expansion will see an additional 830MWs of operational capacity feeding into the country’s energy grid by mid-2025, delivering thousands of GWh’s per annum into the private market. Our involvement in these key projects - namely the Korosun 2 cluster and the R9-billion cluster of three wind farms in the Eastern Cape - underscores our commitment to driving industry growth and economic recovery while addressing the country's energy shortages. Read more on our website here: https://lnkd.in/dbJUCD4j #windenergy #windpower #development EDF Renewables (South Africa) Nordex Group David Moncasi Hortet Felix W. Losada South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) Department of Mineral Resources and Energy Presidential Climate Commission Industrial Development Corporation The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa the dti (Department of Trade and Industry: Republic of South Africa)

It is an exciting time for Australia's energy transition, as significant developments are shaping its future. Key to the transition will be the installation of around 10,000 kilometres of transmission lines to connect Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) and dispersed solar, wind, and hydro sources to load centres – which are central hubs that distribute electricity to homes, businesses, and industries – often located thousands of kilometres away. "Upgrades to the energy grid are needed to adapt the system and make it safe and secure for renewable energy as existing infrastructure ages, becomes overburdened or obsolete.” In this interview, TBH’s Managing Director, Jonathan Jacobs, discusses why grid expansion is needed, and how TBH is playing an important role in Australia’s ‘Rewiring the Nation’ project. Please click the below link to read more: https://lnkd.in/gmgfj2-C #TBH #rewiringthenation #Australianenergy

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has confirmed that Australia’s main power grid can reliably transition from coal to predominantly renewable energy—if critical investments are made on time and in full. According to AEMO's latest report, this shift requires substantial progress in new solar, wind, battery, and pumped hydro projects, alongside the development of transmission links. Currently, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro contribute about 40% of electricity on the East Coast, a figure that has doubled over the past five years. The Albanese government aims to increase this share to 82% by 2030. However, AEMO's chief executive, Daniel Westerman, highlighted that any delays in these projects could result in reliability gaps, particularly during peak demand in summer. Encouragingly, the grid’s reliability outlook has improved thanks to 5.7GW of new large-scale generation and storage, 365 kilometres of new transmission connections, and a two-year extension of the Eraring coal plant in New South Wales. Additionally, the rapid expansion of rooftop solar is helping to bolster the grid’s capacity. Despite these positive developments, the clean energy sector is facing challenges. Investment in large-scale renewable projects slowed dramatically in 2023, with financial commitments to solar farms shrinking by over a third and no new wind farms receiving support. This slowdown contrasts with continued strong investment in rooftop solar and battery storage. In response, the government has announced an expanded underwriting programme to add 32GW of renewables and storage by 2030. AEMO’s report highlights the importance of accelerating investment and infrastructure development to maintain grid reliability and meet ambitious renewable energy targets. The coming summer will be a true test of our grid’s resilience, but with careful planning and prompt action, we can ensure a smooth transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future. #renewableenergy #sustainability #cleanenergy #netzero #energytransition #aemo #investment #solar #windpower #australia #evoegy

South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has initiated the third bid round under the Battery Energy Storage IPP Procurement Programme, signalling a significant stride towards bolstering the country's energy infrastructure with five cutting-edge battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, totalling a whopping 616MW/2,464MWh! 🔋🚀 In a testament to its commitment, DMRE had previously launched the first bid window in March 2023, resulting in the allocation of 513 MW/2,052 MWh of BESS capacity. Notably, French utility EDF and South African renewables leader Scatec Africa emerged as key players in this groundbreaking endeavour. 🌟 Adding to the momentum, DMRE has now announced the fifth winner of the first bid window – AGV Projects, a prominent South African renewables developer, set to deliver 153 MW of BESS capacity through its Red Sands BESS project. 🏆🔆 https://lnkd.in/da_bYUfF #ConnectingGreenTalent #Renewables #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #BESS

South Africa's renewable energy market is gaining momentum. In Q3 2024 alone, over 2 GW of renewable energy projects were registered with Nersa, contributing to a total of 3.3 GW for the year. This shift signals a movement beyond loadshedding concerns to a focus on the economics of renewable energy. The surge in private sector projects shows growing confidence in South Africa’s renewable market, with the pipeline of private projects standing at an impressive 22.5 GW. These developments underscore the crucial role of policy, grid readiness, and streamlined procurement in accelerating South Africa’s energy transition. Click on the link below to learn more. #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #JustTransition