The National Energy Department has pledged about R12 million towards the maintenance of solar geysers installed in Galeshewe in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. This emerged during Minister Ben Martins' door to door visit to the area as part of a tour of energy projects that are currently under construction in the Northern Cape. He also embarked on a public engagement … [Read more...]
Solar module maker believes SA prices have ‘bottomed’
Thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer First Solar, of the US, remains optimistic about prospects for its solution in South Africa, despite a sharp decline in the prices bid for PV projects during the most recent bid window under the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). Regional director for … [Read more...]
Wits to build new car for solar race
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) will enter the 2014 Sasol Solar Challenge with a brand-new vehicle, the Parhelion, currently under construction. Built largely by the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, the new, modern vehicle will replace the solar car which clinched the Wits team, as a first-time entrant, the fourth place in the 2012 … [Read more...]
PV course teaches delegates about solar energy
The recently launched SUNCybernetics hosted its first solar photovoltaic (PV) training session at the North West University (NWU) campus’ Solar Training Centre of South Africa. A total of 60 delegates had the opportunity to learn from the recently completed installations at the NWU. The one-day course introduced delegates to PV solar by using a generic training module and … [Read more...]
Young South Africans take on solar
Some 21 South Africans took part in solar training in Cape Town, jointly organised by Greenpeace Africa, the Youth Support center and Expertise en cuisine Solaire (ExSol) to empower the public with skills on solar energy. The week long training focused on both theoretical and practical exercises, laying the groundwork for future solar careers. The trainees were drawn from a … [Read more...]
Solar power in sunny South Africa
With the rise in demand for sustainable energy, solar power is stepping up to supply. In a country with plentiful sunshine, this seems like an ideal and bottomless resource to tap. Last week the Solar Indaba was hosted by the Mount Nelson hotel in Cape Town, and Green Times attended. This conference gave 250 director and board level stakeholders the opportunity to enter … [Read more...]
Responsible business to leave a legacy
When Pravin and Nirvana Goorun returned to South Africa after ten years in Dublin, Ireland they wanted to leave a legacy for their children. “Not in terms of monetary funds, but in a business that supports a sustainable future and takes responsibility for a healthy world,” said Nirvana. In Ireland Pravin, a corporate accountant and Nirvana, a chemical engineer, missed the … [Read more...]
2012: giving thanks for environmental wins
It looks like our species has finally begun to reunite economics and ecology for a sustainable future. Biologist Dr. Reese Halter looks back at a few examples of environmental triumphs that we can all celebrate from 2012: Professor Matt King of the University of Tasmania dispelled climate deniers by revealing that 190 million metric tons of ice a day have been melting from … [Read more...]
Gearing up for another green day
The Little Green Gathering weekend and Little Green Days are eco friendly, solar powered, wind powered, compost toileted, children welcoming, talent accepting, organic and vegetarian. These events bring great local bands, DJs, comedy and theatre to entertain. With competitions, a healing space, green kids area, permaculture gardens and an open-mic wind and pedal-powered … [Read more...]
Energy experts & corporates discuss opportunities
Business think tank Accelerate Cape Town and KPMG brought several large companies together earlier this month to discuss emerging renewable energy opportunities in South Africa, with input from experts in business, academia and government. Accelerate Cape Town’s 48 member companies include some of the largest corporates in the country and a number of multinationals who have … [Read more...]
Zille: Western Cape to be green hub
The Western Cape government seeks to make the region the "green economic hub" of South Africa, provincial premier Helen Zille said on Monday. Opening the first Southern African Solar Energy Conference in Stellenbosch, she told delegates that the province aimed to draw at least a tenth of its power from renewable sources within two years. "We intend by 2014... that at … [Read more...]
Why Google invests in clean energy
"The source of energy in the future is going to be clean energy, but no single source will dominate. You wouldn't put a solar on the windy planes of North Dakota if you could put a turbine there," said Rick Needham, Google's director of green business operations in a recent interview. Last year Google invested more than $915 million in clean energy projects such as solar, … [Read more...]
Double Renewable Energy Available in Africa
The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published today a study mapping the potential of renewable energy sources in Africa. The report analyses the current energy consumption in Africa and assesses potential of renewable energy sources - solar, wind, biomass and hydropower - and their cost efficiency and environmental sustainability. Its publication coincides … [Read more...]
