Climate change is the most widespread & complex problem humanity has ever faced! There is no time to waste and we need to turn green talk into profound green action. This is the intention of the GREEN TIMES.
Local infrastructure experts and energy management services are joining forces to identify renewable energy and energy efficiency opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Akhani Group, a B-BBEE level 1 company, provides turnkey solutions of support infrastructure for the mining, oil, gas, energy sector and related industries and is based in South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania. … [Read more...]
The tornadoes that have been devastating parts of the South and Midwest USA, just weeks after a deadly mudslide in Washington, demonstrate once again the unimaginable power of nature. After each disaster, we grieve over the human lives lost, the innocent people drowned or crushed without warning … [Read more...]
Segolene Royal, appointed French energy and environment minister this month, said she planned to create 100,000 jobs in the next three years with a drive for green growth. Royal told a news conference she wanted to accelerate investment in renewable energies like wind, solar, biomass and marine energy, as well as in insulation of buildings. In coming days, Royal will make … [Read more...]
Eskom’s recent announcement of its September 2013 interim results show that the utility’s profit margins fell slightly to R12.2 billion, but the major news was the resignation of CEO, Brian Dames. It seems like a change in leadership for the utility is an incredible opportunity for a change in direction towards renewable energy, because the reality for both the utility and … [Read more...]
Eskom is in the running to win the international award for this year’s worst corporation in the annual Public Eye Awards, taking place parallel to the World Economic Forum. Eskom supplies 90% of South Africa’s electricity needs through its 18 coal-fired power stations Eskom has applied for two-thirds of its coal-fired power stations to be exempt from and/or postpone … [Read more...]
Energy is the major driver of economic growth around the world. With the rapid global population increase, countries are challenged to meet their socio-economic energy demands. We have faced power challenges locally, highlighting the country’s urgent need to supplement its energy supply. However, our bulk energy source, production and consumption are unsustainable, and pose … [Read more...]
Load shedding and escalating energy costs have had significant impacts on businesses in South Africa. Whilst South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPP), which has been at the forefront of South African energy news, is going some of the way to addressing South Africa’s energy requirements, many businesses are starting to take … [Read more...]
In the green world we might not often take the lead in this country. We are used to being a decade or two behind Europe often, yet in enthusiasm there is seldom a shortage. Our people can take information or knowledge and charge to the top in no time at all. This week we had the constant deluge of hectic climate facts relieved by an outing that gave me hope. We were invited … [Read more...]
To say our growing stockpiles of non-degradable plastic waste are an environmental headache has to be the understatement of the century. However, thanks to Somerset West inventor William Graham, this highly problematic waste has just become a valuable resource. Here’s why: His modular, fully automated plastics-to-fuel processing plant converts all types of waste plastics … [Read more...]
The end of the world? No, the world isn't falling apart, as you might have read lately, but those structures and institutions supporting it as we knew it: capitalist markets, civilized norms, personal autonomy, global cooperation, and democratic processes. As modern people, we are used to thinking in linear and progressive terms, open to the future. Certainly, there were … [Read more...]
The Renewable Energy Forum South Africa (“REFSA”) Conference was founded by Linda Olagunju as a means of setting a platform where industry stake holders could discuss issues affecting the industry with the key objective of making a positive change within the sector. It also addresses the impact of the industry on broader socio-economic issues such as transformation and local … [Read more...]
The importance of following the correct methodologies and protocols in measuring and verifying energy savings is becoming a prerequisite for ensuring successful application of financial incentives. Fund managers of incentive schemes want to be sure that the energy that is being saved, which they are paying for, is in fact true savings. Measuring such a saving is actually the … [Read more...]
Thembani Bukula, chairman of the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) electricity sub-committee, explained why the regulator cut Eskom’s price hike from the requested 16 percent a year for five years to 8 percent a year. Returns: Eskom asked for returns of 7.9 percent. Nersa limited this to an average of about 3 percent. That reduces the returns to R137 billion instead … [Read more...]
