Digital Realty’s Teraco, South Africa’s biggest data centre operator, plans to source all its power from renewable sources over the next decade, significantly reducing its reliance on Eskom in the process.

Teraco is Africa’s leading carrier-neutral colocation provider. It is well-known for hosting the continent’s biggest Internet exchange — NAPAfrica — critical for delivering fast access to online content and services in South Africa.

Teraco’s seven data centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban currently have a critical load capacity of 186MW.

An additional 90MW capacity is currently under construction, which will take these facilities’ total potential power draw to 276MW.

That is more power than a single coal-fired unit at Eskom’s older Grootvlei or Hendrina power stations can supply.

Teraco aims to power 50% of its colocation sites with renewable energy by 2027 and have 100% of these facilities running on clean sources by 2035.

To achieve this, the company will use a mix of Eskom or local utility-supplied clean energy, energy generated from its own solar facilities, third-party renewable energy suppliers, wheeling, and renewable energy certificate purchases.
Read more...........>>>>>>
​

EDF Renewables’ construction of the Koruson 1 cluster of three wind farms (Phezukomoya,
San Kraal and Coleskop) outside Middelburg and Noupoort, is well underway, with half of the of
237 turbine blades and other components required, having been delivered from Coega port via
the R75 and N10 to the three sites. Each blade on the turbines is 81.35m long, with a weight of
28 tons.
“We would like to thank the public for their patience and safe driving with regard to the abnormal
loads that are carrying the components from the harbour to site. There are several other
projects under construction in the area, and we realise that traffic is being affected,” said project
CEO, Cedric Faye.
​
The scale of the Koruson 1 project is massive with the three sites spread across 50 square km.
There are 78 wind turbines which will be installed on concrete towers, now being assembled
and erected across the three sites. The 124m high concrete towers each comprise 50
keystones, all manufactured locally at a concrete tower factory outside Middelburg.
Developed by EDF Renewables in partnership with H1 Holdings, GIBB-Crede and a local
community trust, each wind farm has a capacity of 140 MW, with a total installed capacity of 420
MW. This makes the biggest wind farm ever built in Africa, The total investment in the project
is 11bn ZAR.
In addition to the three windfarms, a main transmission station and three substations are under
construction to transmit the power to Eskom. The construction works are all progressing rapidly
towards commissioning, and the Commercial Operations Date (COD) is planned for first
quarter of 2025.

The project which is is part of Round 5 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer
Programme, and will contribute to reducing the energy deficit in South Africa.

Approximately 3800 workers are currently on site. The project is creating significant
employment, and local resources and businesses are being utilized wherever possible.
More than 40% of the project’s value is comprises South African goods and services, and
1,25% of revenue generated by the projects over their contractual period will be applied to
socio-economic development initiatives for nearby local communities

For more information visit: edf-re.co.za

Orania in the Northern Cape recently took delivery of a large battery energy storage system (BESS) that will help the town avoid the first six stages of load-shedding.

Orania’s electricity distributor, Orasol, told MyBroadband that the 4.8MWh BESS offers 4.3MWh of useable capacity with a maximum output of 2.75MW.

The BESS consists of multiple lithium-ion battery cells with a control system that can manage battery levels at the cell level. It also features liquid cooling for optimal thermal management.

Orasol said the battery’s primary purpose will be to provide the town with an uninterrupted electricity supply during power outages, going up to stage 6 load-shedding.

The town currently has a demand of around 1.2MW, with a peak demand of 1.9MW.

That means the BESS would be able to supply power to the entire town for around two hours in peak periods and three to four hours at other times when fully charged.

That excludes the contribution of Orasol’s 1.25MWp solar power farm, which first entered operation in late 2022 and is already capable of supplying 30% of Orania’s electricity demand.

Together, the solar farm and battery will be capable of providing Eskom-free power to the town from 06:00 to 22:

Read more...........>>>>>>
​

"Our projects will contribute towards meeting the energy needs of South Africans, both through government programmes and through private channels for Anglo American mines via our joint trader Envusa Energy," said Tristan de Drouas, CEO of EDF Renewables.

"These constructions will have a visible impact on the current power shortage, which is very good news for the country, and a source of pride for the teams. They are a tangible illustration of the EDF Group's capabilities to deliver low-carbon energy solutions in South Africa."

If the Anglo American buyout is completed, BHP Group will be a dominant player in critical minerals for the global energy transition.

This massive program, developed with key partners, reached financial agreements between November 2022 and February 2024. EDF Renewables' projects are rapidly moving forward to help ease South Africa's crippling energy deficit.

The following projects are at the forefront:

Koruson 1: A cluster of three wind farms (Phezukomoya, San Kraal, and Coleskop) with a total capacity of 420MW, developed in partnership with H1 Holdings, GIBB-Crede, and a local community trust.

Koruson 2: A collaboration with Anglo American via their joint venture Envusa Energy.

This project includes wind and solar farms with 520MW total generation capacity, with investments from Pele Green Energy and a local community trust.

Umoyilanga Hybrid Power Plant: A partnership with Perpetua Holdings. This innovative "virtual power plant" will combine 115MW solar, 63MW wind, and 75MW battery storage over two geographically separate sites delivering 75MW of dispatchable power.
Read more...........>>>>>>

Please support our members......

IEA executive director Fatih Birol

An expected sharp fall in battery costs for energy storage in coming years will accelerate the shift to renewable energy from fossil fuels, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday. 

While renewable energy by itself is already much cheaper than coal and gas-fired plants, weather can interrupt solar and wind power and must be paired with energy storage systems to provide reliable sources of energy.

The total capital costs of battery storage are due to tumble by up to 40% by 2030, the Paris-based watchdog said in its Batteries and Secure Energy Transitions report.

"The combination of solar PV (photovoltaic) and batteries is today competitive with new coal plants in India," said IEA executive director Fatih Birol.

"And just in the next few years, it will be cheaper than new coal in China and gas-fired power in the United States. Batteries are changing the game before our eyes."

About 90% of lithium ion batteries are used in the transport sector, which focuses on dense and light units. There is more scope for cutting costs in energy storage batteries, which can be larger and heavier.

Cheaper lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries accounted for 80% of new storage batteries last year, the IEA said.

Cheaper sodium-ion batteries will account for less than 10% of electric vehicle batteries by 2030, but they will make up a growing share of energy storage batteries, it added.

The global market for energy storage doubled last year to over 90 GWh, the report said.

Overall global energy storage capacity is due to soar six-fold by 2030, with batteries accounting for 90% of the rise and pumped hydropower for most of the rest.
Read more...........>>>>>>

​Please support our members......

Recently published standards for solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) demonstrate South Africa’s commitment to the roll-out of renewable energy projects while protecting environmentally sensitive areas, an expert has said.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) recently published norms and standards (collectively, the Norms) applicable to the development and expansion of solar PVs and BESS located in areas of low or medium environmental sensitivity.

The norms mean that these developments may no longer be required to obtain an environmental authorisation (EA) required to progress with the construction and operation of a solar PV or BESS.

Although not discussed in this article, it is important to acknowledge that the DFFE have recently published additional notices for public comment relating to the exemption of the development and expansion of facilities or infrastructure for transmitting and distributing electricity; and the development and expansion of substations. This is encouraging evidence of further legislative developments being implemented to facilitate renewable energy developments and address the ongoing transmission and distribution infrastructure constraints which limit the roll-out of renewable energy projects. 

Margo-Ann Werner, environmental law expert at Pinsent Masons, said: “The finalisation of these norms and standards contribute to the DFFE’s attempts to streamline permitting processes and lead time for renewable energy facility developments as part of the efforts to combat South Africa’s energy crisis.”

​Read more...........>>>>>>

Melrose Arch, a mixed-use precinct in South Africa, is revolutionizing sustainability with its innovative initiatives. From waste management to renewable energy, the precinct is paving the way for a greener future.
Established in 1998 with just 11 buildings, Melrose Arch has grown into a sprawling complex spanning 199,600m². Its unique super basement not only reduces traffic congestion but also serves as the backbone of the precinct’s operations.
Greenery lines the streets of Melrose Arch, boasting over 700 trees and five internal garden spaces. But it’s not just about aesthetics; the precinct’s sustainability efforts extend to waste management, cooling systems, and renewable energy.
Melrose Arch’s rooftop solar system spans 16 different surfaces, generating approximately 3.2MW of clean energy annually. Plans to expand this capacity aim to increase renewable energy supply by an additional 3MW per year. The precinct is also exploring battery plant solutions to provide standby energy during outages.
Reiner Henschel, Operations Director at Melrose Arch, emphasizes the precinct’s unwavering dedication to sustainability. By integrating environmental responsibility into every aspect of its operations, Melrose Arch aims to set a new standard for sustainability in South Africa.
​
Read more...........>>>>>>

Please support our members......

Eskom has initiated a tender process for the construction of a 75 MW solar farm adjacent to the Lethabo Power Plant in Sasolburg, located in South Africa’s Free State province.

The state-owned power utility has specified that the project will consist of a single photovoltaic (PV) facility.

The selected bidder will undertake various tasks including design, engineering, supply, construction, installation, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of the solar facility.

Developers interested in participating in the tender process have until June 4 to submit their proposals.

Read more...........>>>>>>

Please support our members......

In a bid to enhance access to finance for renewable energy and affordable housing initiatives in South Africa, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a partnership with Standard Bank Group, one of Africa’s largest banking conglomerates.

IFC’s commitment of a $300 million sustainable Tier 2 capital loan to Standard Bank South Africa, a subsidiary of Standard Bank Group, aims to facilitate lending for renewable energy projects and home loans targeted at low-income homebuyers in South Africa. Notably, half of the loan allocation will be earmarked for home loans to women borrowers.

Of the $300 million loan, IFC directly sponsored $260 million, while the remaining $40 million was mobilized from commercial investors.

This financing initiative comes at a crucial time for South Africa, which grapples with an energy crisis largely fueled by reliance on coal, constituting 80% of its energy mix. By reducing dependence on coal-powered energy, IFC’s funding is poised to play a pivotal role in the country’s transition to cleaner energy sources. Additionally, it aims to address the pressing need for affordable housing, with South Africa facing a housing deficit of approximately 3.7 million dwellings, primarily in the low-cost housing segment.
Read more...........>>>>>>

Please support our members......

Standard Bank head of Southern Africa’s oil and gas coverage Paul Eardley-Taylor has suggested that South Africa needs 13 GW of gas-to-power (GtP) capacity, rather than the 7.2 GW to 8.6 GW outlined in the draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023.

Speaking at mine ventilation solutions developer Howden’s Technology Day, hosted at Mintek, in Johannesburg, on April 17, he explained that this calculation was made by considering the need to overcome Stage 6 or even Stage 7 loadshedding, when Stage 6 was being regularly achieved, as well as ensure a 15% reserve margin for winter peak demand.

He said 13 GW of GtP would enable Eskom to comfortably undertake regular maintenance of its coal fleet over the long term, while effectively alleviating any loadshedding risk.

He said there was little doubt that the Southern African region had significant hydrocarbons, most likely including South Africa, which ought to be responsibly developed for economic growth, fiscal benefit and GtP.

​Read more...........>>>>>>

​Please support our members......