Olkaria — In its quest to generate more reliable, climate-friendly electric energy, Kenya has become the first country in the world to make use of temporary geothermal wellheads, which are currently injecting an extra 56 megawatts into the national grid.   According to engineers at the Kenya Electricity Generation Company (KenGen), it takes a number of years to construct a single geothermal power plant, because it has to be fed by.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 24th October 2015

Gaborone — The dual listed African Energy says it is in good financial standing following steps the company undertook to reduce expenditure such as structured divestments and staffing levels, executive salaries and corporate overheads.   African Energy is listed in the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE: AFR) and Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: AFR). The company states in its annual report released recently that it has acquired a.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 24th October 2015

 The use of encroacher biomass as a source of renewable energy has a large potential for the energy sector and the economy as Nampower prepares to generate electricity from invader bush.   Electricity utility, Nampower will start with the feasibility phase as the finance strategy is yet to be confirmed. A 2012 pre-feasibility study found sufficient encroacher bush biomass to supply 10 plants of 20 MW each for about 189.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 24th October 2015

 Preparation for construction of  Nuclear Power Plants in South Africa has begun in earnest after the department of energy received US $14.80m from the National Treasury for feasibility study putting into consideration the cost, benefits and risks involved.   This allocation comes a year after South Africa faith communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) marked its first anniversary of protest against nuclear plans due to.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 24th October 2015

 First commercially viable biogas plant in South Africa has began operation supplying renewable energy to automotive manufacturer BMW.   A year ago,  energy company Bio2Watt and BMW SA signed a deal for power generation which saw the first power supply happen early October.   The two companies have a ten year deal that will see to it that up to 30 percent of 12MW of energy is delivered to the Rosslyn plant from the 4.4MW.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd October 2015

Information Technology giant Google has announced that it was buying 12.5 per cent stake in Africa’s largest wind farm that is the Lake Turkana Wind Power construction project in Kenya. The IT firm has agreed to purchase the stake in the wind farm project in Kenya from the project’s third-largest investor Vestas, when it becomes operational in 2018. Google is set to invest US$40,000 in Lake Turkana wind power construction.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd October 2015

 Lagos — STAKEHOLDERS from Nigeria government, utilities, consultants and investors will next month converge in Lagos to discuss the challenges of local markets, capacity building and investment in the regional power sector.   The summit will be held under the auspices of the West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC) on November 24-25.   WAPIC will focus on Nigeria's renewable energy potential as clean the power.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st October 2015

Dar es Salaam — The government has said it is optimistic it can close the deficit of 1,290 megawatts of electricity to achieve the goal of generating 2,780 MW by the end of next year   "What we must now do is find a means of generating the remaining 1,290MW so that we can reach that target by end of next year.   "If we would have implemented the projects as I had visualized, we would now be quite contented,".... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st October 2015

Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya are trying to find out how much electricity a planned high voltage power line linking them will deliver to each country as they prepare to launch the $1.4 billion project by 2018, Zambia's energy ministry said. The interconnection is intended to enhance power trade, security of electricity supply and regional economic integration, Zambia's energy ministry said in a notice issued on Friday inviting consultants to.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 20th October 2015

Nairobi — Kenya Power has signed power purchase agreements with four local generators for the uptake of 20.8MW additional power capacity from renewable energy sources.   Signed in 20-year arrangements under feed-in tariff policy that aims at encouraging investments in renewable energy projects, the power utility will draw the extra capacity from biomass, solar, mini-hydro and windmicro-plants located in Kwale, Nairobi, Kajiado and.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 17th October 2015

Israeli energy firm Ormat Technologies has teamed up with Japan's Toshiba Corporation to source and implement joint geothermal contracts.   The first project expected to be implemented under the deal signed Friday is Nakuru's Menengai Crater to be constructed and operated by the Ormat - Symbion Power LLC - Civicon consortium.   Ormat, which represents Toshiba in the Kenyan venture, said in a press statement that negotiations on the.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 17th October 2015

France says it has granted 170 million dollars aimed at increasing the power supply for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).   The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Denys Gauer announced this on Thursday in Abuja in a remark at the Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo 2015.   Represented by Mr Georges Vanin, First Counsellor, Political Affairs and Communication, Embassy of France, Abuj, the ambassador said the power sector was one of the.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 17th October 2015