Solar Water Heaters: The Virtual Power Stations

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Eskom has been racking its brains to come up with simple, economical solutions to its current crisis. One of these solutions it, believes is a national solar water heating program that will reduce peak demand on its currently strained electricity grid by 5,000 MW with a total investment of R70billion, R30bn less than a coal fired base load power station of the same size.

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Electricity prices in South Africa could increase more than threefold over the next three years

Filed Under Global Warming, Infrastructure, South Africa | Tags: none | Leave a Comment

According to Anton Eberhard, Professor of Management, restructuring and regulation of network/infrastructure industries at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, “Prices could increase more than threefold over the next three years”. The article titled “South Africa: Price Hikes Inevitable If We Want to Keep the Lights on” published in March 2009, is confirmation that South African consumers and business have been paying almost nothing for electricity for decades. The economic impact of a tripling of electric prices will be significant and in some cases devistating. In such an environment, it is inevitable that renewable energy solutions will become financially viable. The question is will South Africans adopt these technologies in time to avoid the devistation or will they wait until the last minute and possibley miss the boat?

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Earthlife Africa publishes “Sustainable Energy Briefing 17: Renewable Energy Costs”

Filed Under Global Warming, Infrastructure, South Africa | Tags: none | Leave a Comment

Here’s a very good paper on the opportunity for renewable energy in South Africa “Sustainable Energy Briefing 17″ exploring the costs of renewable energy vis-a-vis fossil fuel. As Earthlife summarizes:

“With Eskom negotiating with the World Bank for a US$5 billion dollar loan to finance a part of its planned R1 trillion expansion plan, there is an urgent need to assess Eskom’s current build plan in the sober light of financial long-term health. Eskom’s current plans are for increased investment in coal-fired power stations and nuclear plants. These plants have life expectancies of between 40-60 years.

The attached Sustainable Energy Briefing will summarise recent research into the costs of renewable energy versus fossil fuel energy. This research indicates that the cost of building renewable energy is cheaper (or at par) with that of fossil fuels and without the consideration of externalised costs.

In addition, the unit cost of electricity will be examined. In the next 15 years or less, the unit cost of renewable energy will be less than that of conventional energy. This statement (perhaps one of the most important statements in the energy sector today) has the logical consequence that Eskom’s continued reliance on coal will result in higher than necessary energy prices. Once again, these calculations do not include externalised costs such as carbon emissions, poor air quality, waste storage, and acid rain.

Finally, this issue will outline the faulty economics of nuclear power. Simply put, nuclear power may be the altar upon which this country bankrupts itself.”

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Kayema Partner in Global Infrastructure Mutual Fund

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Kayema have partnered with Israeli infrastructure expert, Nissan Caspi, in providing research services to UBank Mutual Funds Ltd. for recently launched Global Infrastructure and Engineering Mutual Fund. Click here for UBank press release (Hebrew): UBank Infrastructure & Engineering Fund

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International Expansion Offers Bright Future for VINCI

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At $30.5 billion in market capitalization, VINCI SA is one of the major players in the infrastructure sector. Based in France with over 100 years operating experience, the company could be forgiven for resting on its laurels. Yet, we believe VINCI SA represents a growth story in an emerging new asset class of infrastructure stocks characterized by predictable cash flow streams, asset appreciation and monopolistic market structures.

This report was prepared by Kayema taking an in depth analytical look at the French infrastructure giant, VINCI, as part of a global infrastructure portfolio. Click here to download the full report. VINCI analyst report

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