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George Municipality to buy privately generated ‘green’ energy

renewable energy 4 Responses »

Nov 092010

Green energy project george

Green energy project george

George Municipality could be the first municipality in South Africa to buy privately generated electricity. The news was revealed at a site inspection on 25 October 2010 of the R200-million green energy to electricity project, between the state owned Central Energy Fund (CEF), Carbon & Environmental Options (C&EO) and other stakeholders.

In the Picture – Ms Busi Mabuza – CEF Group Chairperson, Karel Siegel, MBH Executive; Dr Phindile Masangane – Project Manager CEF and Mr Mputumi Damane – CEF Group CEO with some of the equipment for the proposed green energy to electricity project.

According to CEF project manager Dr Phindile Masangane, the plant will produce a maximum of 8.8 megawatts electricity (MWe) and could export a maximum of 7.5 MWe into George’s electricity grid by 2012. This would provide George with about 10 percent of its electricity requirements.
George Municipality will not be making a capital investment in the plant as it will be funded by CEF and its partners.
George Executive Deputy Mayor Lionel Esau, councillors and the electro-technical department paid a visit to the site with Dr Masangane, CEF chairman Busi Mabuza, chief executive Mputumi Damane and MBH Energy executive Karl Siegal to inspect equipment that has been imported from India.
MBH Energy will build the air-cooled power island that will convert the green waste to electricity.
The plant requires 110 000 tonnes of green waste, such as forest and sawmill waste, woodchips, bark and sawdust to generate the required electricity per annum. Siegel said the waste would be burnt in a boiler which would generate 4 000 tons of steam that would then turn the turbine that powers the alternator to produce the electricity.

Masangane said that 75% of the main equipment is already on site, which stands on the former Sonae Novabord property in George Industria.
Construction of the plant could start in August 2011 and if plans go according to schedule, the plant could be commissioned within nine months.

Source – George Municipality

Eskom moves on green wind and solar energy

Solar Water heating, renewable energy 13 Responses »

Sep 092010

By Reuters

Eskom will start procuring renewable energy projects next month to help ease power shortages and reduce its carbon footprint.

Eskom power lines

Eskom power lines
Photograph by: Mark Wessels.

The power utility said yesterday that it would start the procurements in October or November, before a planned independent power purchasing body to be created to negotiate energy deals separately from Eskom, was created.

The utiliy’s Yousuf Haffejee said the procurements, expected to add 1025MW to the national grid, would take up to a year to be completed.

The power-generating plants established by the projects will be commissioned by 2012-2013. Continue reading »

Checking for leaks in taps, pipes and dishwasher hoses is an easy way to reduce water wastage.
Remember, one leaking tap can waste more than 2,000 lt a month.
There’s no need to leave the tap running while you brush your teeth. Simply wet your toothbrush before you begin and use a glass of water to rinse your mouth.
The most water efficient methods for cooking vegetables are microwaving, steaming or using a pressure cooker. You can also cut down on water loss by using tight lids on pots and simmering instead of boiling rapidly.
Installing water efficient taps or tap aerators is a great, inexpensive way to cut your water usage without you even noticing.
Put the plug in the sink when washing your hands instead of holding them under running water.
Thaw frozen foods before you need them or use the microwave instead of placing them under running water.
Prevent taps from leaking by turning taps off lightly and replace washers as soon as they begin to leak.
Automatic dishwashers can use up to 40 lt of water per load. By using a dishwasher with at least a 3 star/AAA rating, you can get this figure down to 18 lt per load and still get the kind of sparkling clean dishes you’re used to.
Wait until you have a full load in your dishwasher before using it. This saves water and energy, and reduces the amount of detergent entering the sewerage system.
Keep a container of water in the fridge so that you won’t need to run the water down the sink until it’s cool enough to drink.
Washing fruit and vegetables in a half-filled sink instead of under running water is a great way to cut back on water wastage.
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Use a sink strainer.
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Remember to regularly clean the lint filter on your washing machine.
Most washing machines have a load adjustment button or dial, so try to set this to match the amount of washing you’re doing. If your machine doesn’t have a load adjustment function, try to wait until you have enough washing for a full load.
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