Gravity storage system based on linear electric machines
South African scientists have designed a novel gravity energy storage system that uses linear electric motors to vertically move multiple solid masses to store and discharge electrical energy. They say its levelized cost of storage (LCOS) is $137.20/MWh, but with efficiency improvements, it could drop to about $100/MWh
South Africa’s Eskom kicks off 36.5 MW/146 MWh storage tender
South African utility Eskom aims to develop 35 MW/140 MWh of battery storage capacity at its substations in Eastern Cape province. The tender will also accept bids for a 1.5 MW/6 MWh storage system, plus 2.04 MW of solar PV at another substation. Eskom started building the country’s first battery energy storage system (BESS) last week.
South Africa’s sixth renewables auction concludes with lowest bid of $0.02689/kWh
South Africa selected five solar projects with a combined capacity of 860 MW in its latest auction. However, the authorities did not select any wind projects from the 4.1 GW of bids that were submitted. The final average price for PV was ZAR 0.490 ($0.02808)/kWh.
Talesun, ARTsolar open 325 MW module factory in South Africa
Talesun has opened a new production facility with ARTsolar to manufacture high-efficiency, large-format PV modules. They said they might install a second 500 MW production line in the near future.
The Hydrogen Stream: Ultra-stable platinum-lanthanum for more efficient fuel cells
Tsinghua University researchers have developed a way to combine high-cost platinum and a rare earth element, lanthanum, to serve as a catalyst in fuel cells. Meanwhile, SSAB, LKAB, and Vattenfall have revealed plans to launch industrial production of hydrogen direct reduced sponge iron (H-DRI) by the end of this decade.
The Hydrogen Stream: UK consortium plans 10 MW offshore wind-hydrogen facility
A group of UK companies has started working on a 10 MW wind-to-hydrogen project, American Airlines has announced a new investment in hydrogen distribution, and ACWA Power has teamed up with South Korea’s Kepco to develop green hydrogen/ ammonia projects in the Middle East.
Rio Tinto unit signs up for 148 MW of solar
Richards Bay Minerals has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with French renewables developer Voltalia, which plans to build a 148 MW solar project in South Africa’s Limpopo province.
South Africa unveils bids for sixth renewables procurement round
South Africa’s Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme Office says that 5.5 GW of solar will compete with 4.1 GW of wind power projects in its latest procurement round.
Cape Town tenders for solar in bid to escape dependence on troubled utility
The city authority wants a developer to construct a 7 MW solar project for it as part of a push to widen its sources of electricity, and says clean energy will be cheaper than – largely coal-fired – grid power from Eskom.
Financial close for 200 MW of solar in South Africa
Sola Group and Tronox have finally reached financial close on two 100 MW solar projects in South Africa, roughly six months after signing power purchase agreements.
