The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has opened its registration platform for WINDABA 2021, which will be held under the theme: ‘Renaissance of the Wind Energy Industry - Delivering Economic Benefits for SA’.

The Ingula Nature Reserve which hosts Eskom’s Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme has been recognised by the International Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (the international treaty governing the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands) as a wetland site of international importance. This international recognition results from many years of hard work by Eskom and its partners, BirdLife South Africa and Middelpunt Wetland Trust, on the preservation of the wetland area.

An autonomous mobile robot has been seen moving around the corridors of the REDI shopping centre in Kalasatama, a neighbourhood in Helsinki, Finland. Operated by OMRON’s solution partner Dimalog, the robot was being used in a month-long ‘Home-on Demand’ automated courier service trial. The pilot trial was testing the potential for using autonomous robots for deliveries to urban homes. It is part of a larger experiment called the Six City Strategy ‘New solutions in city logistics’ project, which is looking at possible options for last mile deliveries in Finnish cities. It is seeking solutions that will organise urban logistics as lightly, sustainably and efficiently as possible.

The recently launched Request for Proposals for the fifth Bid Window (BW5) in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), calls for proposals from independent power producers (IPPs) to develop 2 600 MW of new generation capacity: 1 600 MW from onshore wind energy and 1 000 MW from solar photovoltaic (solar PV) power plants, in line with the government’s aim to increase generation capacity and ensure a secure energy supply for the country. 

Eskom and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a framework to strengthen the current cooperation and collaboration between the two parties, and to promote the development of a competitive electricity sector, supported by modern technology and achieving low carbon emissions.