By Dave Harcourt •
September 17, 2009
Massive untapped solar radiation advantage of Africa - click for numbers
This positive report on the opportunities for Renewable Energy in South Africa is a starting point for a series of posts that will report on developments in and linked to the use of Renewable Energy in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Where is Renewable Energy Going in South Africa?
An almost ten fold growth in revenue from renewable energy is predicted by business research and consulting firm Frost and Sullivan’s. This emerges from their Southern African Renewable Energy Equipment Market analysis, which sees the current renewable industry in South Africa having revenues of only $28.4 million in 2008 but projects a growth to over $250 million by 2015.
By Dave Harcourt •
September 4, 2009
This post consists of a few lines and a link to what’s happened since some of my recent posts where there has been significant action. Each item is identified and linked by the date and title of the original post.
July 2009 - Sable Antelope - One Sold for $ 385 000 and Giant Species Rediscovered in Angola.
Three more Giant Sable Antelopes, have been sighted in Angola. This brings to six the number of this rare species, which was feared to have become extinct, that have been sited in the last few weeks.
July 2009 - Mauling of Baboon by “Fighting Dogs”, Reopens the Cape Peninsular Baboon Debate
Two men were attacked by Pit Bulls in Ocean View ,the same Township in Ocean View this week, prompting a warning from welfare group TEARS.
By Mridul Chadha •
August 14, 2009
Lack of foreign investments owing to the global financial crisis and its own negotiating stance at climate talks could throw back India’s schedule to implement plans of setting up large scale solar energy projects.
By Dave Harcourt •
April 13, 2009
For the first time the South African government has put in place realistic support that will begin the investment needed to reach our goal of sourcing 2% of our energy needs from renewable energy by 2013.
What Is the Challenge
In 2003 the
Government set a target of 10,000 GWh of energy to be produced from renewable energy sources by 2013. At that time the strategy expected the energies to be biomass, wind, solar and small-scale hydro.
Very little progress has been made on reaching this goal although six of the 10 years have already passed.
By Mridul Chadha •
March 1, 2009
Ignoring the billions of dollars of investments made in renewable energy projects by the developed countries, the Indian government has demanded them to do more and not use economic recession as an ‘excuse’ to stop investments.
By Mridul Chadha •
January 8, 2009
Global leaders are looking to beat economic recession and rising carbon emissions by a unified approach of developing a low-carbon economies and investing in clean energy projects aimed at ensuring energy security and economic growth.
By Mridul Chadha •
January 4, 2009
Due to the economic slowdown the world has seen a slump in renewable energy investment but United States has been the hardest hit while European countries did better. It is now critical that lawmakers in the US take serious actions to encourage use of renewable energy.
By Carol Gulyas •
July 6, 2008
Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA) has introduced legislation to establish a feed-in tariff (FIT) for renewable energy. Feed-in tariffs have made Germany a solar powerhouse that employs 40,000 people in the solar industry alone, and an estimated 140,000 jobs in renewable energy. FITs have not been a topic of discussion in this country, but now that is sure to change, as the conversation shifts to ways to finance the growth of renewable energy. Renewable Energy World reports that:
“Inslee’s legislation would require utilities — at the request of any new renewable energy facility owner — to enter into a 20-year fixed-rate power purchase agreement. Uniform national “renewable energy payment” rates would be set by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at levels that would provide a 10% internal rate of return on investment for available commercialized technologies in regions constituting the top 30th percentile of renewable energy resource potential in the U.S..”
In plain English, this means that if you install solar PV panels on your home, the utility has to buy the electricity you generate at a higher rate than retail, guaranteeing you a return on your investment. Extending this power purchase agreement for 20 years gives everyone — especially those who want to invest in renewables or start a small business installing solar panels — assurance of return on their investment.
