2020 – Issue 3
Issues
ESI Africa Edition 3 2020
In this issue, our cover story unravels the future possibilities held within the mystery of using Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) networks...
Smart Technologies
Ed’s letter: Preparing for a decade of smart energy action
Let’s debate whether Africa is ready for a smart energy transition. Do these success stories show that we are already underway?
Future Energy
Not even a global crisis will sway her from reaching SDG7
Having taken up her position at SE4ALL at the start of what would prove to be a year of unprecedented crises, Damilola Ogunbiyi spoke on achieving SDG7.
Future Energy
The big question: Considerations when employing hybrid energy solutions
The Big Question we asked the experts is: What are the considerations that businesses should be mindful of when employing hybrid energy solutions?
Smart Grids
LPWA networks: Supporting the next wave of smart metering
As the IoT evolves, many new communication options will become available to utilities, many of them LPWA networks, writes Chris Strauss, research engineer at Conlog.
Finance and Policy
Rand volatility: Routes to manage energy sector participants’ exposure
The South African economy has been severely disrupted and seen large contractions in its GDP due to the lockdown with knock-on effect on the Rand.
Generation
Geothermal power plants can also come in small sizes
With the introduction of Geoportable, Toshiba ESS has made it possible to construct a small-scale geothermal plant on as little as 250 square metres.
Renewable energy
Generating reliable, affordable and flexible energy across Africa
Africa’s fastest growing population requires the establishment of reliable, affordable and flexible energy systems, Siyabonga Mbanjwa, Managing Director of SENER Southern Africa.
Water
Speculation: Impact on WASH as flow of funding diverted
A live webinar focusing on WASH as a first line of defence against COVID-19 and unpacking the African water sector response, formed part of the first-ever Virtual African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa in May this year.
Generation
Is it possible to climate-proof East Africa’s hydropower sector?
Africa is projected to experience increasing climate hazards for the remainder of the 21st century – so how is hydropower generation going to be affected and how can it enhance the continent’s resilience to climate change?
Renewable energy
East Africa: Home of the mini-grid revolution
In this exclusive interview with Aaron Leopold, CEO of the Africa Mini-grid Developers Association (AMDA), highlights that mini-grid companies are providing the power and have the difficult task of fitting a square peg into a round hole.
