All posts: Energy


Explainer Row of light bulbs

Nersa is proposing a new electricity pricing structure to reflect South Africa’s evolving and diversifying energy market.

News & Analysis Utility-scale battery storage facility

Investing in energy storage can quickly address load shedding and lay the foundations for a cleaner, more secure power system, said the IISD.

News & Analysis Electricity pylon

Energy storage such as grid batteries and pumped hydro can address the electricity crisis and ease load-shedding, according to the new study.

News & Analysis Wind farm

A survey of South Africa’s renewable energy pipeline shows 66 GW of wind and solar projects are at various stages of development.

News & Analysis

The three gas-to-power ships will “cost South Africa billions of rand and be loaded onto your electricity bill”, argues OUTA.

News & Analysis Aerial view of ship in channel

EU demand for coal imports is set to plummet by 2030, to be replaced by critical minerals and technologies for the clean energy transition.

News & Analysis Electricity pylons

The programme is the largest on the African continent for the procurement of renewable energy and resource efficiency for public facilities.

News & Analysis Eskom's Kusile coal power station

Eskom’s plan to temporarily bypass sulphur dioxide controls at Kusile coal power plant poses a deadly health risk to local communities.

News & Analysis

No wind turbines were connected to South Africa’s grid in 2022, inhibiting progress toward solving load-shedding and fossil fuel price volatility.

News & Analysis Wind turbines at sunset

Wind and solar energy grew to a record 12 per cent of global electricity generation in 2022, according to a new report by Ember.

News & Analysis Array of rooftop solar panels

Evidence shows an additional 5 GW of renewable capacity could all but end load shedding and its associated socio-economic damage.

News & Analysis Electricity pylon and power plant air pollution

To address the power and climate crises, massive investments in transmission infrastructure and renewables are needed over the coming years.

Explainer Photograph of a gas meter that measures consumption in cubic metres. A white person's right hand is touching the meter at the point where the numbers are going up, perhaps to convey the idea that the person is worried about their gas consumption. There is a thick layer of dust on the meter.

The place of natural gas in a clean energy future is hotly debated. But, there is a simple answer to whether natural gas is renewable.

Explainer City road with buildings and cars

Compressed natural gas (CNG) is promoted as a cleaner fuel alternative, but also comes with risks to the climate and health.

Explainer Aerial view of solar panels

While fossil fuel prices soar, solar is the solution to affordable energy security, job creation and sustainable economic growth.

Explainer

Analysts agree that natural gas is too risky for South Africa, and it is not needed for the energy transition from coal to clean.

Explainer Photograph of a river where the water has an orange/red colour because of high iron content

The link between coal, gas and water pollution is clear, but the extraction and use of fossil fuels affect ecosystems in many less obvious ways as well.

Explainer Aerial photograph of rooftop solar panels at sunset

Renewable energy investment could go a long way to filling the gaps caused by retiring coal-fired power plants and would reduce the need for load shedding.

News & Analysis Wide shot of generic coal power station spewing toxic chemicals into the air

Mpumalanga province is not typically known for wind and solar generation, but there are major advantages to encroaching on coal country.

Explainer Silhouette of coal mining tower against pink sky

Coal is the world’s dirtiest energy. A just transition from coal mining will profoundly benefit people and the environment.