Sector coupling essential if an emissions revolution is to succeed
There is a rapidly growing awareness of the need to decarbonise energy supply, and we have recently seen dramatic shifts start to occur. As governments increasingly design policy targeting net zero carbon emissions, industry has been responding in kind. By Seydou...
Off-grid solutions are making more sense to South Africans
With load shedding back and disrupting day to day life, compounded by consumers feeling the 15% increase on their electricity bill, alternative sources of energy are starting to look more attractive to South Africans, and solar should be at the top of the list. By...
Consumers urged to look for energy efficiency labels
In an effort to mitigate climate change and help move South Africa towards being a more energy-efficient nation, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) encourages every individual to consider their household energy use. South Africa is the...
No wind or sun? There’s a battery for that
South Africans joined the rest of the world in marking World Earth Day to the backdrop of an electricity grid that is still under immense pressure and still dominated by coal, despite large mining houses announcing divestment in the fossil fuel source. While there are...
ICT can reduce carbon emissions, leapfrog Africa into a green economy
ICT has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by 20% over the next decade. This is the word from William Xu, director of the board and president of Huawei's Institute of Strategic Research, who says energy sustainability is a daunting challenge that faces...
Translating transformation in mining
The mining sector has undergone significant change over the past year. By John Lewis, MD of Aggreko Africa Change that was both expected and unexpected. On one hand, digital transformation, integrated operations, supply chain efficiencies, and investments into tools...
Is load shedding here to stay?
Since Eskom cannot meet the country's demand for electricity, load shedding is likely to be with us for the rest of the year, at least. By Barry Bredenkamp, senior manager at the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) However, there are steps...
Practical steps to gain independence from the grid
As Eskom announces load shedding on an almost-weekly basis, which wreaks havoc with the economy, more and more businesses and households are investigating how to become less dependent on the national grid - at least during the power outages. Besides the obvious...
IBM commits to net zero greenhouse gas emissions
IBM has announced that it will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to further its decades-long work to address the global climate crisis. The company will accomplish this goal by prioritizing actual reductions in its emissions, energy efficiency efforts...
Run factories efficiently with digital power management
In the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry, factories returning to normal (or almost normal) face new challenges characterised by changes in their workforce. Many companies have lost experienced facility management or engineering staff through retirement or...
Mines can turn energy liabilities into assets
Energy cost, constraints and supply interruptions risk mining companies' productivity, output and profits. While mines are better prepared to operate on reduced power than they were during the 2008 electricity crisis, the sweeping blackouts at the end of 2019 impacted...
How to choose a quality storage battery: think of an onion
South Africa's stretched energy grid has led to a rapid uptake of uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems and a marked increase in renewable energy investments. Freedom from the grid needs reliable storage batteries - where the energy created by turbines or solar...