Weekend Read: Consolidating growth in Africa
Across Africa, rooftop solar is stepping in to fill the void as fears of non-payment and inflation-reduced donor funding dampen enthusiasm for big solar. Commercial and industrial (C&I) arrays are leading the charge, driving consolidation in markets overstocked with startup and mid-size installers.
German startup deploys mobile dual-axis solar tracker in South Africa
SunOyster Energy has installed its PVmover system to supply power for a lodge in South Africa’s Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. It includes nine PV modules with a combined capacity of 3.8 kW.
South Africa conducts tender to reshape renewables tender program
Consultants have until this evening to submit their proposals on reviewing and replacing South Africa’s Renewable Energy IPP Procurement (REIPPPP) scheme. In its current form, the REIPPP mechanism has been described as “expensive” to applicants and placing a “financial burden” on the evaluation office.
The Hydrogen Stream: Japan backs hydrogen in aviation
The Japanese government has confirmed to pv magazine that it is launching a new support scheme for hydrogen in aviation, while Japanese investors continue to actively pursue participation in a green ammonia project in South Africa.
Hybrid PV-biogas microgrids for EV charging
An international research team has examined the potential use of hybrid microgrids that integrate PV and biogas for electric vehicle recharging in Karnataka, India. Their findings indicate that this combined approach offers economic and environmental benefits compared to separate biogas and PV systems.
New model for day-ahead solar forecasting in areas with limited data
South Korean researchers have developed a long-term solar irradiance prediction method based on a reinforcement learning algorithm. They claim that the new model is able to forecast solar radiation for more than a year using just two weeks of solar radiation learning.
South Africa streamlines 203 MW of wind-solar-storage hybrid projects
The South African authorities awarded project agreements to two wind-solar-storage hybrid projects that were selected in a 2 GW tech-neutral tender held under the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) in 2021.
Prospects of bringing together PV, storage and EV charging
In this pv magazine Webinar, we’ll hear about a new solution to combine PV, battery storage and EV charging in a single solution.
Weekend Read: Chaotic leadership leaves South Africans in the dark
Extensive load-shedding, lack of grid capacity, failing coal-fired power stations, lack of progress in clean power procurement, and even vandalism have prompted various South African government departments to take renewables generation into their own hands, seemingly without any overarching plan, as Bryan Groenendaal reports.
Mining company Harmony commissions 30 MW solar plants in South Africa
Construction of Phase 2 of the project is expected to commence in December 2023 and be completed in FY25, the company says. Once complete, this will add a further 137 MW.
