Electricity + Control April 2015

ENERGY + ENVIROFICIENCY

ROUND UP

Egypt’s power generation capacity to be massively increased Siemens and the Egyptian government have reached firm agree- ments today to build a 4,4 GW combined-cycle power plant and install wind power capacity of 2 GW. Siemens will build a factory in Egypt to manufacture rotor blades for wind turbines, creating up to 1 000 jobs and therefore nearly trebling Siemens’ footprint in the country. Including two further Memorandums of Under- standing (MoU) which were signed at the event, Egypt’s power generation capacity will bemassively increased by up to one third mostly by 2020. Under the agreements, Siemens will propose to build additional combined cycle power plants with a capacity of up to 6,6 GW and ten substations for reliable power supply.The agreements were signed at the Egypt Economic Development Conference in Sharmel-Sheikh in the presence of Egypt’s Minister of Electricity Shaker al Markabi, Germany’s vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, and Joe Kaeser, president and chief executive officer of SiemensAG. “Egypt needs a powerful and reliable energy system to support its long-term, sustainable economic development, and experienced partners who understand the specific challenges facing the country”, said Joe Kaeser. “Siemens’ technology and expertise has been supporting Egypt’s growth for more than 150 years, and our track record shows that we deliver what we promise - also in challenging times.We are part of Egypt’s society and proud to shape Egypt’s future together.” Enquiries: Email Keshin.govender@siemens.com

Annual Renewable Energy Outlook 2014

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan , Annual Renewable Energy Outlook 2014, forecasts the global installed capacity of renewable energy to more than double from 1,566 gigawatts (GW) in 2012 to reach 3,203 GW in 2025 at an average annual growth rate of 5,7 %. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is expected to account for 33,4 % of total renewable energy capacity additions over the 2012-2025 period. Wind follows closely at 32,7 %, ahead of hydro power at 25,3 %. Other renewable technologies will represent the remaining 8,6 % of capacity additions. However, economic difficulties in many parts of the world are affect- ing the outlook for renewable energy. In much of the Western world, the weak economic climate has impacted support schemes, which will continue to be the lifeline for many renewable energy installations until grid parity is achieved. For complimentary access to more information on this research, please visit: http://ow.ly/K6uJ6. Rosatom is ready to empower Africa Rosatom presented an overviewof the current trends in the development of nuclear energy as well as the company’s vision for South Africa,during the annual Nuclear Africa Conference held on the 18 and 19 March 2015. The renowned annual conference was held at Necsa’s Visitors Centre in Pelindaba, North West Province and was intended to develop a positive and proactive approach to the nuclear power planning and implementation process in South Africa, as well as to provide a forum for people to access the entire spectrum of expertise from research and development, to the construction and fabrication of nuclear power as- semblies and installations. Speaking at the conference, Rosatomdirector of the international business department, Nikolay Drozdov noted that there were a number of new developments within the Russian Nuclear Industry. One of these developments is the use of nuclear reactors for desalination purposes, and Rosatom believes this could be part of the solution to combat the ever worsening water crisis in Africa. Enquiries: Email rcollyer@rosatom.co.za Eskom tariff increase from 1 April 2015 Eskom confirms that the price increase to be implemented on 1 April 2015 to Eskom direct customers is still 12,69 % and for municipalities will be 14,25 % from 1 July 2015 as approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) during November 2014. Eskom’s cur- rent financial position, as a result of historical non-cost reflective tariffs and the lag in recovery of eligible expenditure, does not afford Eskom’s balance sheet the ability to pre-fund further costs that are necessitated by a constrained power system such as short term power purchases from independent power producers and municipal generators and the increased use of open cycle gas turbines. These constraints have neces- sitated Eskom to explore options for further review of tariff increases for the 2015/16 financial year. Enquiries: Email MediaDesk@eskom.co.za

April ‘15 Electricity+Control

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