Electricity and Control February 2020

ENERGY MANAGEMENT + THE INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT

wheeling agreements to deliver the power to its breweries. In line with the above, SAB plans to migrate one of its South African facilities to 100% renewable energy supply by the end of 2020, one of the first of its kind in the country. The multi-faceted solution will encompass a wind and solar energy mix, a wheeling arrangement and energy banking. Outside of its breweries, in the surrounding communities, SAB and AB InBev Africa plan to provide access to clean and affordable energy to around 80 000 people. Renewable energy micro-grid solutions will provide power to consumers at a significantly lower cost than current solutions. This process will be delivered and managed through a blockchain solution.

be invested by the business’s development partners, with a further R12.4 billion (US$866 million) in energy cost that would be committed by AB InBev over a 20-year period. The implementation will consist of three phases, beginning with onsite solar installations with a capital investment of around R1.1 billion. Once maximum capacity onsite has been achieved, renewable energy solutions will expand to identified sites in the vicinity of the breweries. - Phase 1 represents onsite solar installations - Phase 2 entails renewable energy solutions installed on land adjacent to the breweries, which would be hard wire cabled to the breweries - Phase 3 will involve offsite renewable energy solutions, which would comprise remote installations and require

ENERGY MANAGEMENT + THE INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

IRENA calls for renewed commitment to increase renewable energy NDCs At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP25) held in Madrid in December last year (2019), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released its latest report – NDCs in 2020: Advancing Renewables in the Power Sector and Beyond – urging countries to raise their renewable energy ambitions significantly and adopt targets in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that will really transform the global energy system. The report shows that NDCs would need to more than double by 2030 to put the world in line with the Paris Agreement goals, reaching 7.7 terawatts (TW) of globally installed capacity by then. Current renewable energy pledges in terms of the NDCs fall short of this, targeting only 3.2 TW.

growth, good for job creation and deliver significant welfare benefits. With renewables, we can also expand energy access and help eradicate energy poverty – in line with the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. IRENA will promote knowledge exchange, strengthen partnerships and work with all stakeholders to catalyse action on the ground. We are engaging with countries and regions worldwide to facilitate renewable energy projects and raise their ambitions.” IRENA’s view is that NDCs must become a driving force for an accelerated global energy transformation. The current pledges reflect neither the past decade’s rapid growth nor the ongoing market trends for renewables. Through higher renewable energy ambitions, NDCs could serve to advance multiple climate and development objectives.

The report states that with over 2.3 TW installed renewable capacity to date, almost half of the additional renewable energy capacity foreseen by current NDCs has already been installed. The analysis also highlights that delivering on increased renewable energy ambitions can be achieved cost-effectively and with considerable socio-economic benefits around the world. “Increasing renewable energy targets is absolutely necessary,” said IRENA’s Director- General Francesco La Camera. “Much more is possible. There is a decisive opportunity for policy makers to step up climate action by raising ambitions on renewables, which are the only immediate solution to meet rising energy demand while decarbonising the global economy and building resilience. “IRENA’s analysis shows that a pathway to a decarbonised economy is technologically possible and socially and economically beneficial,” La Camera continued. “Renewables are good for

For more information or to download the report visit: https://irena.org/

14 Electricity + Control

FEBRUARY 2020