Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 8 September 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Electricity and Energy deputy minister, Samantha Jane Graham-Maré, says the creation of Eskom Green will mark a new chapter in South Africa’s electricity story. Eskom Green will be one of the four unbundled entities that will fall under the power utility’s holding company, with a mandate to drive renewable storage and green hydrogen. Eskom aims to significantly increase its renewable energy portfolio, committing to around 5.90 gigawatts of clean energy projects by 2030. Graham-Maré says Eskom Green will position the country for a cleaner, more competitive future.

# University of Pretoria researcher Hanlie Smuts says the cost of storing the world’s constantly growing dark data, which is data that is stored but never used, is creating a significant carbon footprint. Globally, data centres already account for approximately two-percent of carbon or greenhouse gas emissions, and this is expected to double by 2030 as digital adoption accelerates. Smuts says she has developed a socio-technical framework and guideline for people in organisations to master dark data management and contribute to digital decarbonisation.

# And finally: The South African Weather Service has issued a yellow level 2 alert for severe thundershowers with heavy rain in several parts of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal. The downpours can lead to flooding of roads and settlements. Residents in low-lying areas are advised to take extra precautions due to potential localised flooding. The SA Weather Service says the thunderstorms may also cause danger to life due to fast-flowing water or streams, damage or loss of infrastructure and major travel disruptions.

Stay tuned for more news………….