solar power

  1. Hanno Labuschagne

    Eskom, Joburg, and Tshwane explain grid disconnection processes

    Eskom, Joburg, and Tshwane explain grid disconnection processes The impending overhaul of South Africa's electricity tariff determinations could make it more attractive for South African households and businesses to become electricity-independent and sever their connection to the national grid...
  3. Hanno Labuschagne

    South Africa's solar power potential going to waste

    South Africa's solar power potential going to waste South Africa is making efforts to increase the use of solar photovoltaic energy. But it’s happening at a very slow pace. Solar photovoltaic contributes less than 5% to the country’s energy mix, despite the sunny climate, which is very...
  4. Hanno Labuschagne

    SA-developed solar-powered blinds could launch in 2024

    SA-developed solar-powered blinds could launch in 2024 29-year-old electrical maintenance technician Lisa von Benecke hopes to launch her solar-powered blinds in South Africa this year. Von Benecke recently told Rapport she got the idea for the blinds while frustrated with load-shedding and...
  5. Hanno Labuschagne

    Three decades of government failure on electricity provision

    Three decades of government failure on electricity provision In 1994, Apartheid ended and the African National Congress (ANC) won South Africa’s first ever democratic elections, promising “Electricity for All” as part of its Reconstruction and Development Programme. Back then, only 36% of all...
  6. Hanno Labuschagne

    Energy nerds assemble

    Energy nerds assemble When Kevin Wood’s local utility started offering customers money in exchange for using less electricity, the father of one had a battle on his hands. Wood, who lives in Hampshire in southern England, was keen on realizing savings while alleviating peak energy demand. But...
  7. Hanno Labuschagne

    Solar silicon prices hit 3-year low

    Solar silicon prices hit 3-year low Solar silicon prices in China plunged to a three-year low as overcapacity and fierce competition slash profits across the industry. Average prices of polysilicon dropped as much as 20% in the past week, according to a statement by the China Silicon Industry...
  8. Hanno Labuschagne

    Real reason for drop in Eskom load-shedding

    Real reason for drop in Eskom load-shedding The extended relief in load-shedding in the past two weeks is not because of the improved performance of Eskom's generating fleet but due to a drop in demand for the power utility's electricity. That is according to EE Business Intelligence founder...
  9. Hanno Labuschagne

    Expert weighs in on SA's ideal energy mix

    Expert weighs in on SA's ideal energy mix South Africa’s economy has been hard hit by 15 years of load-shedding (rolling blackouts). The country’s coal-fired power plants have a maintenance backlog and frequently experience unexpected technical failures. On the other hand, South Africa has...
  10. Hanno Labuschagne

    Cape Town launches online portal for private solar applications

    Cape Town launches online portal for private solar applications The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has launched an online portal to simplify and speed up solar installation applications by households and businesses. CoCT mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis launched the new online Energy Services Applications...
  11. Hanno Labuschagne

    Cape Town testing of cheaper meters going great

    Cape Town testing of cheaper meters going great The City of Cape Town (CoCT) says it has made "great" progress in testing more affordable bidirectional meters for households who want to feed electricity back into the grid. CoCT MMC for energy, Beverley van Reenen, told MyBroadband the testing...
  12. Hanno Labuschagne

    Goodbye home solar tax rebate

    Goodbye home solar tax rebate The solar tax rebate was implemented on 1 March 2023 and has allowed tax-paying citizens to claim a rebate of 25% of the value of new solar panels, up to a maximum rebate of R15,000. Energy experts slammed the incentive as inefficient, particularly because it...
  13. Hanno Labuschagne

    MTN's head office now partially powered by over 5,000 solar panels

    MTN's head office now partially powered by over 5,000 solar panels MTN has switched on the first portion of a massive solar power system at its 14th Avenue head office in Fairlands, Johannesburg. MTN initiated the first phase of its solar renewable energy project in 2023.
  14. Hanno Labuschagne

    Ramaphosa says end of load-shedding "within reach", takes credit for rooftop solar uptake

    Ramaphosa says end of load-shedding "within reach", takes credit for rooftop solar uptake President Cyril Ramaphosa says that the worst of load-shedding is behind South Africa and that the end of the rotational power cuts is "within reach". Ramaphosa made these remarks in his 2024 State of the...
  15. Hanno Labuschagne

    South Africa's first off-grid EV charging station to be completed by June

    South Africa's first off-grid EV charging station to be completed by June Zero Carbon Charge is set to complete South Africa's first fully off-grid electric vehicle (EV) charging station by June 2024. That is according to comment from the company's co-founder and director, Andries Malherbe, in...
  16. Hanno Labuschagne

    Eskom has a net-billing tariff plan — with some heavy limits

    Eskom has a net-billing tariff plan — with some heavy limits A new tariff plan with electricity net-billing introduced by Eskom in the past year provides little incentive for households to feed power back into the grid but offers potential cost savings when charging batteries outside peak...
  17. Hanno Labuschagne

    Biggest battery storage system in South Africa now feeding power into Eskom's grid

    Biggest battery storage system in South Africa now feeding power into Eskom's grid South Africa's biggest solar battery storage system started feeding power into Eskom's grid in mid-December 2023. Scatec ASA announced its Kenhardt hybrid solar and battery facility in the Northern Cape...
  18. Hanno Labuschagne

    Nersa approves power distribution licences to 3 private solar plants

    Nersa approves power distribution licences to 3 private solar plants South Africa’s energy regulator approved three licenses to operate electricity distribution facilities as the nation endures almost-daily power cuts. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) granted distribution...
  19. Hanno Labuschagne

    Diesel vs Electric vs Petrol — greenest cars to drive in South Africa

    Diesel vs Electric vs Petrol — greenest cars to drive in South Africa Electric cars available in South Africa with comparable petrol or diesel equivalents generally have similar or lower carbon emissions, a recent MyBroadband comparison has shown. The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is...
  20. Hanno Labuschagne

    Overloaded Cape grid to be expanded using part of Eskom’s R229-billion funding

    Overloaded Cape grid to be expanded using part of Eskom’s R229-billion funding Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. will use a portion of $12.5 billion (R228.51 billion) multilateral loans toward delivering power to areas where the grid is overloaded and stymying the transition to renewable sources...
  21. Hanno Labuschagne

    Solar and wind equipment makers struggling despite boom in demand

    Solar and wind equipment makers struggling despite boom in demand The biggest manufacturers of wind turbines and solar panels are facing their most serious financial challenges in years even as deployments of clean energy head for an annual record. About 500 gigawatts of renewable generation...
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