Six companies, specialised in biomass valorisation, have teamed up to develop new business initiatives in South Africa using solid (woody) biomass.
The companies have formed a public private partnership (PPP) with the Dutch government, Netherlands Enterprise Agency and the Embassy of the Netherlands in South Africa.
“Beneficiation of biomass residues holds a major potential for South Africa in terms of waste minimisation, job creation, CO₂-reductions, and clean, secure and affordable household energy,” says Emiel Hanekamp, senior partner in Partners for Innovation, one of the companies involved in this initiative.
“We are looking for collaborations with municipalities and local companies to actually make this happen.”
Masterclass at #DAUW
The team will present an exclusive, free masterclass on “Biomass opportunities in South Africa” on 25 November at 12h30 SAST during the Digital African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa.
A previously mothballed pellet factory at Coega Development Zone near Port Elizabeth has already been acquired and will be refurbished to be operational again in the course of 2021. It will be known as the Coega Biomass Centre.
Emiel explains: “Municipalities can valorise the wood residues from their gardens and parks that otherwise end up in overcrowded landfills.
The collection of wood residues, especially the AIS clearing, and the pre-processing and transportation of this waste creates many local jobs. This is apart from the jobs created at the pellet factory itself. In total approximately 900 jobs will be created in the Nelson Mandela Bay area.”
If locally used in gasifier cookstoves, the wood pellets produced by the factory can provide up to 48,000 households with clean and affordable household energy.
South Africa:Eskom CEO Answers Tough Questions On First Day Of Digital African Utility Week On 24 November
Investment
“The Coega Biomass Centre is the first in a row,” Emiel adds, “as our ambition is to start similar initiatives in in South Africa. We expect to launch new initiatives for biomass residues beneficiation during next year. For South African companies, this means investment and collaboration opportunities in a solid infrastructure, creating new sustainable business models in a promising and expanding market. In addition, they can profit from a long-term collaboration with European companies and investors.”
With regards to the total investment in the project thus far, the partners will invest R50-million ZAR (€3-million) in the first phase which is the acquisition, refurbishment and recommissioning of the factory. Further investments in the factory are expected in the near future. For example, the investment in the drying and torrefaction technology and its integration in the existing plant is expected to be around R45-million.
Masterclass: “Biomass opportunities in South Africa”, 25 November at 12h30 SAST | 10h30 GMT
Host: Sebastiaan Messerschmidt, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cape Town, South Africa
Moderator: Werner Euler, MD, iLive Sustainable Development
Speakers:
– Emiel Hanekamp, Senior Partner, Partners for Innovation, The Netherlands
– Joris Spaan, Project Manager, Yilkins, The Netherlands
– Ruben Walker, CEO, African Clean Energy, Lesotho
– Bart-Willem ten Cate, Low-Carbon Strategist, Finco Fuel Group, The Netherlands
Jordi Meijer, Managing Director, Control Union, South Africa
– Garth Barnes, Deputy Director: Risk and Strategic Partnerships, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa
– Kees Kwant, Senior Expert Bioenergy and Liaison Circular Biobased Economy, Netherlands Enterprise Agency, part of Ministry of Economic Affairs, The Netherlands
Media briefing: Announcement of biomass initiative, 24 November, 12h45 SAST | 10h45 GMT
TO REGISTER for the masterclass, media briefing and the other upcoming sessions during Digital African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa:
https://www.african-utility-week.com/digital/general-admission
Through the Innovation Centre, DEWA aims to support innovation and creativity in clean and renewable energy, promote sustainability, develop Emirati talent and enhance the country’s competitive advantage in this sector.
The Innovation Centre’s research on solar power will support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to diversify the energy mix and provide 75% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
During the visit, Sheikh Mohammed inaugurated the 800MW third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
DEWA built the third phase using the IPP model in partnership with a consortium led by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar, and EDF Group, through its subsidiary EDF Energies Nouvelles at an investment of AED3.47 billion.
The third phase provides clean energy for over 240,000 residences in Dubai. The facility is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region to use single axis solar tracking to increase energy generation. It also uses other innovative technologies including cleaning robots for photovoltaic panels to increase the plant’s efficiency.
The total capacity of operational projects at the Solar Park, which use photovoltaic solar panels, is 1,013MW. DEWA is creating an additional capacity of 1,850MW using solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power, CSP, in addition to future phases to reach 5,000MW by 2030.
Al Tayer explained that with the inauguration of the third phase, the share of clean energy in Dubai’s total power output has increased to 9%. This exceeds the target of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 7% of power from clean energy by 2020.
Sheikh Mohammed concluded his tour by visiting the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. Combining CSP and photovoltaic technology based on the IPP model, the fourth phase is the largest single-site CSP project in the world. The 950MW project, featuring an investment of AED15.78 billion, has the world’s tallest solar power tower measuring 262.44 metres in height.
“Inspired by the vision of the UAE leadership, the inauguration of the third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park marks a significant milestone in the journey towards achieving the UAE’s target of having 50 per cent of its power coming from clean energy by 2050,” said Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar.
“As the UAE prepares for ‘The Next 50 Years’, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will further strengthen the country’s position as a global leader in cost competitive renewable energy. This project is a prime example of how Masdar and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority are utilising the latest advances in clean energy technology to drive cost efficiencies and maximise return on investment.
“I would like to congratulate all the teams involved in Shua’a Energy 2 for the delivery of this pioneering, strategic project for the UAE. As we look forward to the next 50 years, our dream of a sustainable future for all generations is becoming a reality,” Al Jaber added.
Receiving the items on behalf of the victims, the Chief Executive of Ho Teaching Hospital, Dr. John Tampouri commended NPA for the donation and called on other companies to emulate the gesture, either in kind or cash to enable the hospital deliver befitting care to the gas explosion victims.
He was particularly grateful for the specific pharmaceuticals and medical supplies donated, as that they met the real needs of the fire victims.
He assured the NPA that the Hospital would use the drugs judiciously to reduce pain and suffering of the fire victims.
Dr. Affram Nelson, Head of Surgical Department at the Hospital, said all the 14 patients that were rushed to the hospital were in critical condition. “Three of the victims died, two were transferred to Ridge Hospital in Accra and the remaining nine victims are currently receiving treatment at the Ho Hospital.”
He appealed to the general public to support the hospital construct a Burns Centre, adding that, “The ideal place to treat the victims is at a Burns Centre where we could give them some form of live support.”
He said upon his assumption of office in 2017, he directed the Ministry of Energy, together with the Bui Power Authority, to re-develop the hydro power generating stations, including that at Tsatsadu.
Speaking at the commissioning of the 45kW Tsatsadu Generation Station at Alavanyo-Abehenease in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region, President Akufo-Addo said the project is a demonstration of the commitment of his administration to develop the country’s energy resources.
The Tsatsadu project was initially designed as a 30kW stand-alone system, but was redesigned and upgraded to a 45kW grid-connection system based on the outcome of the additional studies.
The project was funded through BPA’s internally generated fund of US$400,000 with support from the Danish and Chinese governments through the Renewable Energy Technology Transfer (UNDP-RETT) Project.
The 45kW Tsatsadu Micro-hydro Generation Station was constructed by local young engineers of the Bui Power Authority.
The Paramount Chief of Alavanyo, Togbuiga Tsedze Atakora was full of praise for President Akufo-Addo and Minister for Energy John-Peter Amewu for the numerous development projects in the area.
He said the people were particularly happy that through his leadership and the support of other institutions the recurring problems of Nkonya Alavanyo clashes was not happening.
“Mr. President, the only two things God deprived me of are dancing and singing. If I had a beautiful voice and good dancing skills I would have sung and danced to appreciate you”, he added.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The 45kW Tsatsadu Micro-hydro Generation Station was constructed by local young engineers of the Bui Power Authority.
The Bui Power Authority collaborated with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the International Network on Small Hydro Power of China (IN-SHP) and Ghanaian Energy sector agencies to execute the project.
Bui Power Authority expresses its appreciation for the support from the Paramount Chief and people of Alavanyo and the Foyer de Charité Catholic Retreat Centre in releasing the portion of their land required for the project.
