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AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

dispatchable power digital solutions offering, connecting smart SparkMeter is enabling the deployment of
smart grids in these markets to allow utilities
grid data insights to business operations
<pstyle:3>South Africa has been experiencing for large electricity distribution utilities in to provide better service and thus operate
power supply issues and is now looking into emerging markets. more sustainably,” said Dan Schnitzer, co-
available options including dispatchable The round was led by Clean Energy founder and CEO of SparkMeter.
power to boost the grid. Ventures and Breakthrough Energy SPARKMETER
On 22 August, the Department of Mineral Ventures, alongside Goodwell Investments,
Resources and Energy (DMRE) issued the in partnership with Alitheia Capital, Total
Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Risk Energy Ventures, and other investors. GENERATION
Mitigation Independent Power Producers “The team at SparkMeter has developed a
Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP). disruptive, low-cost and highly impactful South Africa’s blocks
The RMIPPPP is a direct response to the grid management solution, enabling utilities
short-term electricity supply gap as identified in developing countries to simultaneously Karpowership’s entry into
in the Integrated Resource Plan of 2019 (IRP improve electricity access and mitigate carbon
2019). emissions,” said Daniel Goldman, co-founder power sector
This comes as the national power utility, and managing director of Clean Energy
Eskom, has recently been implementing Ventures and SparkMeter board member. <pstyle:3>South Africa’s Department of
loadshedding attributing it to aged generation Goldman noted: “Close to one billion Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF)
infrastructure, cold weather and planned people globally live without access to has revoked a directive granted to Turkish
maintenance. electricity while another billion have company Karpowership SA for activities
The objective of the RMIPPPP is, not unreliable access, and we have an obligation linked to emergency power generation.
only to alleviate the current electricity supply to address this inequity sustainably and This comes after warning bells were
constraints, but also, to reduce the utilisation cost-effectively. Our team at Clean Energy sounded by environmentalists and law
of dieselbased peaking electrical generators, Ventures believes that SparkMeter’s solution experts via South African media about the
the DMRE said in a statement. has the potential to mitigate over 2.5 gigatons floating power plant company applying for
The programme seeks to procure of CO2e between now and 2050 if widely an environmental exemption during the
2,000MW from a range of energy sources and deployed.” COVID-19 pandemic.
technologies. Proposed technical solutions In emerging markets, microgrid and The DEFF said in a statement that when
will have to be dispatchable and be able to distribution utilities often struggle with Karpowership SA had initially submitted
provide a range of support services to the grid electricity and revenue loss due to non- its request the company had indicated
system operator. payment, load management challenges, and the country’s electricity supply was under
All power procured under this programme sub-optimal customer service. threat because of the increased pressure
is expected to be fully operational by not later SparkMeter says its low-cost combination on the healthcare system as a result of the
than the end of June 2022. of patented two-way meter communication pandemic. They made the request to ensure
The department explained that the RFP and smart grid software designed specifically an uninterrupted supply of energy to the
is designed to support Broad Based Black for hard-to-reach and low-consumption end- healthcare sector, something Eskom was
Economic Empowerment initiatives including users improves load management, customer unable to guarantee.
ownership and localisation. services, and billing. The company is currently The Department verbally approved the
Bidders will have to make commitments operating in over 25 countries with over request on 26 June and later, following receipt
in terms of job creation, socio-economic 100,000 meters sold, with more locations of confirmation that all environmental
development, supplier and enterprise added every day. requirements would be met, the directive was
development and skills development. “The lack of access to reliable electricity confirmed in writing on 6 July 2020.
Stringent local content thresholds and is a major barrier to economic advancement “It has subsequently emerged that the
targets have been introduced that should and empowerment across the globe, and company had applied for the verbal directive
provide impetus to the local construction and
manufacturing sectors. This RFP is expected
to attract investment in the region of R40
billion.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, SOUTH AFRICA

METERING

SparkMeter to modernise
distribution utilities in

Africa and Asia

<pstyle:3>Power solutions provider,
SparkMeter, announced the closing of a $12
million Series A financing. The latest funding
will allow the company to launch its new

Week 34 27•August•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P13