Independent power producers catch a break
In 2008 cabinet accepted that the use of coal as a power source would decline from 2030 onwards, and in 2011/12 the energy minister and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) determined that electricity generated from renewable energy sources – wind, concentrated solar power, solar photovoltaic, biogas and so on – could be procured through a tender process.
This led to Eskom signing power purchase agreements (PPAs) – with all but three of the independent power producers (IPPs) whose applications were successful – in 2018.
The government’s energy policy had in fact been developed over nearly two decades of extensive public participation and stakeholder involvement. While South Africa has large coal reserves and coal will remain the primary source of energy for the foreseeable future, it has negative consequences such as the emission of greenhouse gases, leading to an energy policy that “supports and promotes the development of renewable energy to achieve a more sustainable energy mix”. The Integrated Resource Plan 2010-2030 (IRP) was established to give effect to national policy within the framework of the government’s electricity policy framework, including the establishment and procurement of new generation capacity.
SMMEs Meltdowns Continue Because Of Eskom Power Cuts
Small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) that are feeling the strain from Eskom’s load-shedding are appealing to the South African government to come up with a solution, because they are forced to shut their doors.
South Africa has been experiencing stage 4 load-shedding from the beginning of March. As a result, power cuts are forcing small businesses to shut their doors as swiping facilities and security cameras do not function.
Johannesburg based Gim Bekele, who owns a clothing store in Randburg, says they are losing a significant number of customers as a result of load-shedding.
“When there is load-shedding we are forced to closed the shop because people can’t come in when it is dark. The cameras are not working as well as the cashier machines,” he says.
Kelvin Power Station a way to bypass Eskom – Solly Msimanga
Today, I visited the Kelvin Power Station in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni. This power station is privately owned and is currently providing electricity to some of the municipalities in Gauteng, despite Eskom’s rolling blackouts.
The current energy crisis, according to Minister Gordhan, will take up to two years to ‘fix’, despite government not having a clear picture of what the problems are, nor how to solve them. All this while our province’s businesses are being crippled, hospitals are unable to provide critical services and crime soars!
We have to take our ‘power’ back. We need to start thinking of ways of bypassing Eskom so as to make sure that the residents of this province have a reliable source of electricity.
Eskom’s fibre could provide revenue and uplift communities
Eskom, which is going to cost the government R150bn over the next decade, is cited as the single-biggest threat to SA’s fortunes. However, with some creativity the power utility could take fast internet to the masses. It is sitting on a fibre gold mine.
While the public has every right to be angry and demand accountability for the malaise of the state-owned enterprise as it directly affects all our fortunes, there is an opportunity that simply cannot be ignored. As the discussions focus on the utility’s unbundling and turnaround strategy, it would be useful for all stakeholders, from the president and public enterprises ministry to the decision-makers at Eskom, to consider a different revenue stream.
Western Cape wants to ‘break free from Eskom energy stranglehold’ – Maimane
DA leader Mmusi Maimane says he will be writing to Energy Minister Jeff Radebe to grant the Western Cape a licence to start importing liquid natural gas (LNG) to run turbine generators in the province.
Maimane says LNG is both a cheaper and cleaner source of energy than having substations run on diesel.
Maimane and Western Cape premier candidate for the DA Alan Winde were speaking outside the Eskom Ankerlig power station in Atlantis, Cape Town, on Wednesday.
“We already have a special economic zone (SEZ) in Saldanha Bay (in the West Coast District Municipality in the Western Cape) that we could import gas through easily and in a sustainable manner, and it comes with a much lower price tag than diesel. We have done the studies and have worked with Transnet on an actionable plan for importation through Saldanha,” said Maimane.
Load shedding: One of Eskom’s newest multi-billion rand power plants is defective
One of South Africa’s newest power plants, designed to supply the grid during peak-use periods, is defective and has been limited to operate at lower capacity.
The deepest power cuts in more than a decade imposed by cash-strapped, state-owned Eskom this month reduced the chances of the continent’s most-industrialised economy posting a stronger recovery from last year’s recession.
Eskom is battling to meet demand and is considered one of the country’s biggest risks.
The Ingula pumped-storage project, a hydropower plant, was completed two years ago as part of the government’s program to boost generation capacity, was designed to provide at least 1 332 megawatts during periods of peak demand.
Kintetsu Railway in Japan installs 42 Tesla Powerpacks as backup electricity
On Wednesday, Tesla announced that it had installed a bank of 42 Powerpacks at a train station in Osaka to service the Kintetsu Railway during the summer or in the event of an emergency.
The electric railway encompasses 311 miles of trackpowered by overhead lines and third rails. In its “disaster preparedness” capacity, the Tesla batteries will provide emergency backup power in the event of a blackout, providing a short burst of electricity to move any trains that might be stalled in tunnels or under bridges to safety.
The system is small—it has a little more than 7 megawatt-hours (MWh) of capacity and delivers 4.2 megawatts (MW) of power at one time. That’s enough to power stranded trains on Kintetsu’s track for just under a half an hour in an emergency.
How business subsidises other electricity users
Businesses and large electricity users can no longer afford to pay up to 18% more for electricity to subsidise Eskom’s poor residential customers, according to the Energy Intensive User Group (EIUG).
The obligation to provide a social package is on government, not business, and it should be done from the fiscus, says the lobby group. The EIUG represents mines, large factories and foundries. Its members collectively use 40% of the country’s electricity supply.
Energy regulator Nersa recently granted Eskom annual tariff increases of 9.41%, 8.1% and 5.22% for the next three years. The first increase will kick in on April 1 for Eskom’s direct clients, who will pay on average almost 14% more for electricity from that date, due to an additional 4.4% increase granted to Eskom earlier in terms of the Regulatory Clearing Account (RCA) mechanism.
Nuclear must remain in South African mix, committee finds
South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) must explicitly recognise that nuclear will remain an important element of the country’s energy mix, a parliamentary committee has told the country’s Department of Energy.
The Portfolio Committee on Energy (PCE) made its recommendation on 27 November when it formally adopted its report on the 2018 Draft IRP, following public hearings held in October. Portfolio committees are appointed from members of South Africa’s National Assembly to provide parliamentary oversight for the work of government departments.
Energy infrastructure is a critical component of South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP), which was published in 2011 and identifies the need for investment in a strong network of economic infrastructure designed to support the country’s medium- and long-term economic and social objectives. The IRP plays a crucial role in contributing to the objectives of the NDP, the Committee said in its report.
Continue reading:
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Portfolio-Committee-finds-nuclear-must-remain-in-S
