Africa: Connecting Home Solar and Electric Vehicle Batteries to the Grid Could Boost South Africa’s Clean Energy and Strengthen the Electricity System

Africa: Connecting Home Solar and Electric Vehicle Batteries to the Grid Could Boost South Africa’s Clean Energy and Strengthen the Electricity System

South Africa has committed to reaching phasing out human-caused carbon pollution by 2050. To get there, it needs to push as much renewable energy as possible into the national grid. The country is the world’s 15th largest carbon polluter. It’s one of only a handful of countries still heavily dependent on burning coal to generate…

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Eskom’s solar PV rules will backfire, says OUTA

Eskom’s solar PV rules will backfire, says OUTA

Eskom is requiring homes with solar power below a certain capacity to register them. Eskom’s requirement that all solar photovoltaic (PV) systems under 100 kilovolt-amperes (kVA) must be registered will deter homeowners from choosing renewable energy. This is according to civic body the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA). Eskom has been encouraging those who make…

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Shoprite Group makes solar energy gains

Shoprite Group makes solar energy gains

Shoprite Group’s rooftop solar systems are now enough to power nearly 12 300 households annually. Retail giant Shoprite Group has installed its 100th solar photovoltaic (PV) system, 10 years after launching its first solar project in 2015. The company says its rooftop solar systems generate enough clean electricity to power nearly 12 300 households annually….

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Sansa warns of severe solar storm risk in next 24 hours

Sansa warns of severe solar storm risk in next 24 hours

The South African National Space Agency (Sansa) has warned that geomagnetic storm activity is expected to intensify over the next 24 hours following a powerful solar eruption that sent a cloud of charged plasma towards Earth. According to Sansa’s Space Weather Centre, the disturbance was triggered by a long-duration X1.9-class solar flare that erupted from…

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Big solar and energy storage projects going live across South Africa

Big solar and energy storage projects going live across South Africa

Several major renewable energy projects currently under construction will go live this year, according to industry organisation Sapvia. Once operational, these projects will collectively add hundreds of megawatts of new generation capacity to the national grid. This additional capacity is expected to contribute to improved energy security, reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-based generation and support increased…

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South African solar industry faces a reality check

South African solar industry faces a reality check

Solar industry body Sapvia has said the maturing of South Africa’s renewable energy sector brings with it many opportunities for the local manufacture of solar PV components. But swapping out manufacturing for the current import and assemble model threatens to slow job creation. “Manufacturing in this space is important. The industry is finding those spaces…

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Scatec lights up its first WCape solar plant

Scatec lights up its first WCape solar plant

Scatec starts commercial operation at Grootfontein solar power plant in SA. Norwegian renewable energy producer Scatec has begun commercial operation of its 273MW solar power plant in Grootfontein in the Western Cape. In a statement, Scatec says the solar plant will generate predictable revenue from a 20-year power purchase agreement. “We are proud to commence…

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US families’ ‘mind blown’ with cuts to solar rooftop funds | Renewable Energy News

US families’ ‘mind blown’ with cuts to solar rooftop funds | Renewable Energy News

San Francisco, United States – Just weeks ago, Brandon Praileau, a pastor from Norfolk, Virginia, was speaking to families in his community about a federally funded programme that would help them install rooftop solar units in their homes. The government funds would take care of their installation costs, and once installed, lower the burden of rising…

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Africa: Connecting Home Solar and Electric Vehicle Batteries to the Grid Could Boost South Africa’s Clean Energy and Strengthen the Electricity System

Africa: Powering Africa’s First Solar Ai Research Hub

The Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) is partnering with international and local institutions to develop Africa’s first solar-powered artificial intelligence (AI) research cluster. The university is in advanced discussions with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems and Karibu Kwetu Trading to establish micro-concentrated photovoltaic technology. Micro-concentrated photovoltaic technology is a high-efficiency solar…

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