South Africa

November 14, 2020
“Solar thermal cooling reduces the strain on the power grid”

Global IEA Solar Heating and Cooling research platform Task 65, called Solar Cooling for the Sunbelt Regions, aims to provide countries in Africa, Asia and the MENA region with specifications and know-how of solar thermal and PV air conditioning. To achieve this, researchers and...
August 24, 2020
Solar heat to be part of IRENA Cost Report 2021

The latest edition of the Renewable Power Generation Costs Report from the International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA always creates a great deal of interest, worldwide. More than 2,000 stakeholders registered for the webinar on 9 June in which Michael Taylor from IRENA explained the key...
July 24, 2020
Region with high solar ambitions joins IEA SHC

One of the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme’s new sponsors is SACREEE, the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, set up by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), an intergovernmental organisation. SADC represents a dynamically developing solar thermal region...
July 21, 2020
Ups and downs in the 20 largest markets 2019

China again led the ranking for new installations of glazed and unglazed collectors – accounting for 73% of the total – followed by Turkey, India, Brazil and the United States. Additions in the largest solar heating and cooling markets besides China remained stable, with noteworthy growth...
July 2, 2020
Solar cooling concepts for hot climates

The just started international research platform Solar Cooling for the Sunbelt region is very popular among research institutions, manufacturers and consultancies around the world. Already more than 50 organisations from the green-marked countries on the map have signed a letter of...
February 23, 2020
Absolicon to build SHIP demonstration plant at AB InBev brewery

Renewable solutions company Greenline Africa, based in South Africa, was one of 17 businesses chosen to join the 100+ Accelerator programme launched by brewing group AB InBev in mid-February in New York. At the kick-off event, it presented the benefits of using the T160 parabolic trough...
August 28, 2019
Carbon tax in force but few have to pay

The South African carbon tax was finally implemented on 1 June 2019 after there had been several public consultations and delays over the last years. According to the new Carbon Tax Act, the rate will be South African Rand (ZAR) 120 per tonne of carbon dioxide in the first phase, until...
July 23, 2019
Production line for Solar Keymark-certified parabolic trough collectors

At the beginning of May, parabolic trough collector manufacturer Absolicon inaugurated a new, automated production line at its headquarters in Härnösand, Sweden. After the town’s mayor, Andreas Sjölander, had cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony, attendees watched as a glass cover was...
May 22, 2019
SASEC 2019, East London

The University of Fort Hare will host the 6th Southern African Solar Energy Conference (SASEC), which will take place from 25 to 27 November 2019, at Mpekweni Beach Resort, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The conference will focus on both Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Energy technology...
May 22, 2019
First SDH system in Sub-Saharan Africa

On 15 May, the Austrian Ambassador to South Africa inaugurated two landmark projects that had received support from SOLTRAIN, the Southern African Solar Thermal Training and Demonstration Initiative, during planning and installation. One became the first solar district heating plant in Sub-...
April 1, 2019
Building regulations and electricity prices drive market

Budget constraints have cast considerable doubt on plans by the South African government to restart its solar water heater support scheme. Despite the setback, the solar thermal industry is optimistic in outlook because the country’s building regulations have been driving demand for SWH...
March 2, 2019
South Africa: Greatest SHIP potential in food and beverage

Food and beverage is the most important industry for solar process heat in South Africa, according to new research. Not only does it have by far the most demand for steam among all industries (see the chart), but it also showed a rise in production output over the last 15 years. It...