The world will get half its power from wind, solar by 2050

Nearly half the world's electricity will come from renewable energy by 2050 as costs of wind, solar and battery storage continue to plummet.

That titanic shift over the next three decades will come as electricity demand increases 62% and investors pump US$13.3 trillion into new projects, according to a report released Tuesday by BloombergNEF.

Engineering News, 18 June 2019

Cote d'Ivoire pilot to reduce energy losses globally

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has selected EnerNex as a partner for grid modernisation project in Cote d'Ivoire.

EnernEx will provide its services for the implementation of a smart grid study project. The study will help Côte d'Ivoire Énergies (CI-ENERGIES) to identify measures to reduce its energy losses.

ESI Africa, 19 June 2019

Water to wire solution drives small hydropower growth

In Burundi, the Ministry of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines has selected a partner for its small hydropower plant in Kabu.

Through Angelique International Limited, technology group Voith has been selected by the ministry to design, manufacture and supply complete electromechanical equipment for the hydropower plant.

The equipment includes two turbines with a capacity of 10 MW each, valves, generators, the governor and automation system as well as the mechanical and electrical balance of plant systems.

ESI Africa, 19 June 2019

Karpowership sees "huge potential" in energy-hungry Africa

Karpowership, one of the world's largest powership companies, is building vessels the size of several football fields to meet rising demand for energy, especially from Africa.

The unit of Turkey's Karadeniz Energy Group has about 20 ships under construction, according to Karpowership's director for Africa, Emre Durmusoglu. The floating power plants can be deployed in a matter of months and supply electricity to both coastal and land-locked countries for several decades. That means there's "huge potential" in Africa, already the company's biggest market, Durmusoglu said.

Engineering News, 20 June 2019

Kenya slashes 2030 power production targets as use still low – media

Kenya has cut its target for expanding its electricity output by 2030 by nearly 30% as demand is growing more slowly than expected, its energy minister was quoted as saying.

The country now plans to add 7200 MW of installed electricity capacity to its grid by 2030, down from an original target of 10 000 MW, Energy Minister Charles Keter was quoted as saying by local media on Thursday.

Engineering News, 20 June 2019

Wits launches first solar district heating system in South Africa

The South African National Energy Development Institute last month launched the first solar district heating system in South Africa at the Wits University's Junction Campus, saving the buildings millions in energy costs a year.

The Wits Junction district heating project combines solar, cogeneration and gas heating technologies to cater for just over 1 100 students, across 14 residence buildings, which consume around 94 000 ℓ of hot water a day. The installation comprised a 600 m2 solar heating plant and should save ZAR40 million over the next 20 years.

Engineering News, 20 June 2019

An integrated approach to electrification is needed, says SEforAll

A new report from Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) calls for an integrated approach to electrification to support faster, more targeted progress in closing access gaps in key countries.

In the report, Integrated Electrification Pathways for Universal Access to Electrification: A Primer, SEforALL defines integrated electrification pathways as a set of inclusive planning approaches and policy measures that support using grid, mini-grid and off-grid technologies to provide electricity and the associated energy services necessary to meet human needs and contribute to sustainable development.

Engineering News, 21 June 2019

GE wins bid to build US$4bn Zambia-Zimbabwe hydropower plant

Zimbabwe and Zambia chose General Electric (GE) and Power Construction Corporation of China to build a US$4 billion hydropower project straddling their border, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said.

The 2400 MW Batoka Gorge plant has been planned for years by the two southern African nations, both of which are struggling with electricity shortages after a drought curbed hydropower output. GE and Power China are in a consortium that was shortlisted in February to build the facility.

Engineering News, 21 June 2019

SA urged to home in on green-hydrogen export niche

The technology to produce green hydrogen in South Africa, which is produced by electrolysing water using renewable energy, is becoming cost-effective enough to develop the capacity to sell the product in local and international industrial markets, says technical advisory services firm Kambuku Consulting founding director Justin Wimbush.

The available technology is viable for South African-produced green hydrogen to be supplied to European transport markets. This is supported by the fact that countries such as Japan are putting in place arrangements to buy hydrogen generated in locations as distant as Chile, he highlights.

Engineering News, 21 June 2019

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.