electricity
Joburg residents are unable to buy prepaid electricity because CityPower was hacked
Trusty old CityPower has been hit by a ransomware attack that has rendered its online applications useless and residents unable to buy prepaid electricity.
Why energy-sapping bitcoin mining is here to stay
The enormous use of energy needed to mine bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is proving to be very contentious, but alternative methods pose far too much of a security risk. The recent warning that electricity use at bitcoin mining facilities in Iceland may exceed that consumed annually by the country’s homes, which could in turn lead to a potential energy shortage, was slightly alarmist in tone. ...[Read More]
The cost of solar fell 95% in 30 years so why do we still build old fashioned power plants?
To say Amar Inamdar has a vision is an understatement. The soft-spoken, steely-eyed Inamdar wants to see everyone in Africa get electricity, and runs a $100m fund to do just that. But not Eskom, coal-fired conventional energy. Through his KawiSafi Ventures, he is trying to bring solar energy to East Africa and his quiet confidence shows he’s already making progress. “There is a revolut...[Read More]
Scientists create electric circuits inside plants
Plants power life on Earth. They are the original food source supplying energy to almost all living organisms and the basis of the fossil fuels that feed the power demands of the modern world. But burning the remnants of long-dead forests is changing the world in dangerous ways. Can we better harness the power of living plants today? One way might be to turn plants into natural solar power station...[Read More]
A new twist on fusion power could help bring limitless clean energy
In a world struggling to kick its addiction to fossil fuels and feed its growing appetite for energy, there’s one technology in development that almost sounds too good to be true: nuclear fusion. If it works, fusion power offers vast amounts of clean energy with a near limitless fuel source and virtually zero carbon emissions. That’s if it works. But there are teams of researchers around the world...[Read More]
Explainer: South Africa’s developing solar energy landscape
Until a few years ago solar panels were a rare sight in South Africa, largely limited to the roofs of a few affluent households. This is changing rapidly, driven by three factors: the worldwide drive towards renewable energy, a highly strained local electricity supply, and a steady drop in solar panel prices. Taking the lead from other countries, South Africa committed to an energy generation infr...[Read More]