Frank Spencer

@MPGodlimpi @Zuko_Godlimpi Hi @MPGodlimpi, am surprised to read this, ITAC has recently imposed import duties on solar panels into South Africa. As there is practically no local manufacturing of solar PV for the local market, this has only raised the cost of electricity. Perhaps something to look in to?

Checking in with ITAC I commended them on the remarkable work they’ve done with the Energy & Electricity Ministry towards driving the cost of energy for production down. Cheaper energy means cheaper goods, a stronger local industry, & even cushioning against US tariff shocks.

Sludge. What I'm going through with @WOOLWORTHS_SA right now. More than a month trying to resolve an issue. theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

@geordinhl, what's happening, why are Cape Town's fire services being privatised? And only for the benefit of those who pay too!

I have discovered why @Clicks_SA is so poorly rated on Hello Peter - when things go wrong, they simply do nothing to help. Part of my order got lost by the courier, and I am getting blamed, totally ridiculous.

@jacob_maroga From 2017 to 2023 it increased infinitely 🤣

From 2019 to 2023 #loadshedding hours increased by 1290%. In 2023 RSA suffered 6838 hours (78% ) of loadshedding out of 8760 hours. #EnergyLeadership

@TKavulla The same system installed in South Africa woukd be less than half that price.

Question for those in the rooftop solar biz: Is ~$20k (before federal tax credits / SREC sales) for a 18, 400-watt panel (7.2 kw) install a good value? 30-year warranty included. Guarantee of 90% of production estimate in Year 1. We are talking Maryland, if that matters.

@Gaylor_MC Where is the SAREM? Why, despite being approved, is not being made public? Now you saying it's being implemented already, without a public release??

Custom duties (10%) on #solarpanels imported into SA are live! This is an important step in the development of the local industry and the implementation of the SA #RenewableEnergy Masterplan (SAREM).

@D_W_Taljaard @TKavulla @lensofjw @FrancisBJackson @brena @NickEh30 @LameezOmarjee @chrisyelland @MajolaWillibrod Doesn't look like DM's allowed, you welcome to DM me.

@TKavulla I'm based in Johannesburg, but could recommend a few Cape Town based #energytwitter folks. 🇿🇦 Energy Twitter please assist: @solarboygenius @lensofjw @FrancisBJackson @brena @NickEh30 @LameezOmarjee @chrisyelland @MajolaWillibrod @

Hello #energytwitter I'm doing a quick jaunt to Cape Town next week. All travel advice welcome -- but more to the point: if you live there & want to talk power-sector stuff, I'd be delighted to buy you a drink. DM or reply!

@geordinhl @Debiel022 @alanwinde @CityofCT @CityofCTAlerts @Feikemanagement @HermanusOnline Please do advise when reopen for westbound traffic, many many people sruck with nowhere to go, my whole family included

@Debiel022 @alanwinde @CityofCT @CityofCTAlerts @Feikemanagement @HermanusOnline I am in this area right now assessing damage. I can confirm seeing several electricity poles down and my signal isn’t great, but I do still have. Currently at Sir Lowry’s Pass.

Does anyone know if the cell phone signal is down between Hermanus and Sir Lowry’’s pass? We have not be in contact with my daughter for over 3 hours she is stuck somewhere between this area @geordinhl @alanwinde @CityofCT @CityofCTAlerts @Feikemanagement @HermanusOnline

@Debiel022 @geordinhl @alanwinde @CityofCT @CityofCTAlerts @Feikemanagement @HermanusOnline Yes it is. We just went back to Kleinmond and finally found wifi. No wifi or cell reception anywhere near Grabouw, incl the farm stalls

@CapeTownFreeway Sir Lowry's westbound also closed, we stuck in Grabouw. Please advise if Sir Lowry's opens westbound again.

#Road_closure due to mudslides and flooding: N2 Outbound @ Sir Lowry's Pass Road and Inbound @ Swellendam. Clarence Drive remains closed as well. Use alternate routes. #AlwaysBuckleUp

@VOCfm We stuck at Grabouw with nowhere to go. Please advise when a route opens.

The department spokesperson Jandre Bakke said the alternative routes such as the R321 and Franshoek Pass have also been closed. The department is working on opening alternative routes. #roadclosure #COCT Photo: Pixabay

The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works has urged residents returning to Cape Town from coastal towns to delay their return. This is because Sir Lowry's Pass has been closed in both directions. #roadclosure #COCT

@TrafficSA Please advise when Sir Lowry's Westbound reopens. We are trapped at Grabouw with no way out.

Cape Town - TRAVEL ALERT: N2 Sir Lowrys Pass - CLOSED R44 Clarence Drive - CLOSED Villiersdorp / Franschhoek routes - CLOSED #CapeStorm

A “baseloadist’s” nightmare. Why are modern power systems run like this, you might ask? Well, because solar and wind are now the cheapest and cleanest energy sources. And coal and nuclear the most expensive. And coal the dirtiest.

Progress at the Vametco Minigrid! 🙌🏽 So happy to see it! 🎉

Any 20 year trend analysis of @Eskom_SA performance will conclude these failures of old kit will continue & a turnaround is unlikely or extremely difficult. So wake up South Africa! We need a massive & urgent increase in new power - R1 trillion (US$55bn) by 2030. Focus. Focus.

@SANS10400 @Eskom_SA The TDP is driven by developer interest. There is little to no interest to do off-shore wind, as there is no need for it. Still many locations with good wind resource on-shore, and so very much cheaper to do.

Do @Eskom_SA Transmission Plans take into account offshore wind ? Massive potential, and so close to the loads ? ( lets talk about the Durban Eddy ! )

@RichieKennett @BMNperspective @VSUNEnergy At 32 sqm per MWh, that's already quite dense for VRFBs. So ground footprint alone (without spacing) would be 3.9ha for 1.2GWh. I don't know the Mistral footprint.

@solarboygenius @BMNperspective @VSUNEnergy Would that be the case with double staking and placed side by side like the new Invinity Mistral system? 150 units are in the project.

A 300MW/1200MWh vanadium redox flow battery planned for Yuzhong County in China #VRFB #VFB #vanadium m.bjx.com.cn/mnews/20230706…

@BMNperspective @VSUNEnergy That cannot be right, a 1.2GWh VRFB would take over 4ha.

@VSUNEnergy This is what a 1.2GWh VRFB would look like next to Mr Musk's 0.194GWh Lithium-ion battery at Horsndale #ThanksElonbutVRFBwilltakeovernow

I'm on Threads as @solarboygenius. Install the app to follow my threads and replies. @solarboygenius" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">threads.net/@solarboygenius Oh yes, and die Twitter die.