Energy

Lyra Energy secures key licence to trade clean power in SA

NERSA approves Lyra Energy Trading’s licence, enabling renewable power access for South Africa’s commercial and industrial users. (Image source: Lyra Energy)

Lyra Energy Trading, the trading arm of South Africa-based integrated electricity aggregator Lyra Energy, has received its electricity trading licence from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA)

The licence was officially approved on 30 July 2025, following a thorough process that included public hearings and full regulatory compliance.

This development represents a key advancement in Lyra Energy's strategy to deliver clean, affordable power to South Africa’s commercial and industrial markets. With the trading licence in place and access to generation assets secured, Lyra Energy is now positioned as a competitive force in the country’s evolving Wholesale Energy Market. The company aims to offer pricing and contract flexibility to meet the shifting demands of commercial and industrial energy consumers.

Lyra Energy’s trading model includes short-term, standardised power purchase agreements that help mitigate tariff volatility. These agreements also contribute to customers' decarbonisation goals and facilitate the acquisition of green energy credentials.

“We’re proud to be awarded our electricity trading licensed by NERSA, whose role in the transition to the South African Wholesale Energy Market cannot be overstated,” remarked Eben de Vos, head of Lyra Energy. “This award enabling us to use the regulated wheeling framework to buy bulk electricity from Lyra Energy’s generation assets and sell portions thereof to commercial and industrial users.”

Supported by major industry partners

Established in 2024, Lyra Energy is supported by a strategic collaboration led by Scatec and STANLIB Asset Management. Scatec is a leading renewable energy solutions provider, while STANLIB is one of South Africa’s largest asset managers, known for its specialised infrastructure investment team.

Scatec brings to the partnership a broad pipeline of solar, wind, and hybrid projects under development across South Africa and neighbouring regions. The company’s strong track record in delivering and operating energy assets in liberalised markets adds significant operational strength to the initiative.

Meanwhile, the STANLIB Infrastructure Investment team contributes deep infrastructure knowledge and financial mobilisation capabilities, particularly from long-term capital sources such as retirement funds, to accelerate the energy transition.

“Having Lyra Energy as a licensed electricity trader enables the combination of Scatec’s proven development and generation capabilities with STANLIB’s investment leadership to offer a credible utility-scale solution that’s responsive to the energy demands of business.”

Lyra Energy is expected to unveil its first commercial power supply agreement before the end of 2025.

Can silent diesel generators meet Tunisia’s power demands?

Two 60kVA Yuchai-powered generator sets exported to Tunisia for reliable, quiet backup power in urban locations

Dingbo Power has strengthened its footprint in North Africa with the recent export of two 60kVA silent diesel generator sets to Tunisia

The units, each rated at 48kW/60kVA, were ordered in December 2024 by a Tunisian client seeking reliable power backup solutions for critical applications.

Built for both standby and continuous use, the generators feature integrated base fuel tanks capable of delivering up to eight hours of uninterrupted power. Each unit is equipped with a fuel level sensor connected to a cloud-enabled SmartGen control platform, enabling real-time monitoring and preventing unexpected shutdowns due to fuel depletion.

Noise reduction has also been prioritised in these units, which are housed in soundproof enclosures designed to keep noise levels as low as 75 dB(A) at a distance of seven metres. This makes them well-suited for use in residential neighbourhoods, healthcare facilities, hospitality venues, and office environments—anywhere that demands quiet yet dependable performance.

To support long-term operational efficiency, the order also included essential maintenance accessories such as diesel and oil filters.

These generators combine a robust Yuchai engine with a Shanghai Stamford alternator and advanced control systems, offering a high-performance solution tailored to the needs of global clients. The deployment in Tunisia reflects a growing demand for intelligent, fuel-efficient and low-noise generator technology across Africa.

Dingbo Power continues to specialise in the manufacturing and export of diesel and gas generator sets, delivering customised energy solutions to international markets.

Rolls-Royce, INERATEC power data centre shift

Rolls-Royce and INERATEC to integrate climate-neutral e-fuels into backup power systems for data centre sustainability

Rolls-Royce and INERATEC, a leading manufacturer of power-to-X systems and climate-friendly e-fuels, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at introducing INERATEC's climate-neutral e-fuels into emergency power systems for data centres

This initiative seeks to redefine the role of e-fuels in the digital era.

A new future for e-fuels in data centres

With the rapid expansion of data centres, especially driven by the surge in artificial intelligence, energy consumption in this sector is on the rise. Simultaneously, these centres, many part of critical infrastructure, require robust protection from power disruptions. This is where the collaboration between Rolls-Royce Power Systems and INERATEC comes into play. The companies intend to replace fossil diesel with INERATEC’s synthetic e-diesel, produced from green hydrogen and CO₂, in emergency generators. The first stage of the rollout will focus on data centres in Germany.

Rolls-Royce Power Systems is supporting the integration of sustainable fuels in its data centre emergency power solutions. This offers a reliable, cost-effective, and carbon-neutral approach to one of the key challenges in digital infrastructure.

“Rolls-Royce mtu emergency generators have already been approved for operation with sustainable fuels. Our critical infrastructure customers, such as data centers, who want to improve their carbon footprint, will soon also use e-fuels. Together with INERATEC, we are committed to the use of e-fuels in data centers," said Tobias Ostermaier, President Stationary Power Solutions at Rolls-Royce Power Systems.

“Secure power supply to AI data centers is one of the major challenges of our time. Our e-fuels can offer a climate-neutral solution - reliable, scalable and immediately applicable. Together with Rolls-Royce, we are taking them where they are already urgently needed today," added Maximilian Backhaus, chief commercial officer at INERATEC.

The initial phase of the partnership includes a targeted market introduction in Germany. With short delivery routes from INERATEC's production site "ERA ONE" in Frankfurt, rapid deployment is feasible. INERATEC's e-fuels are derived from renewable energy sources and CO₂, complying with internationally recognised environmental certifications such as ISCC. Over time, both companies plan to expand their collaboration globally.

GeniWatt supplies on-site power for telecoms site

FGWilson_GeniWatt_Synergy_MTN_Guinea_Bissau

GeniWatt is expanding its footprint in West Africa (Image source: GeniWatt)

France-based GeniWatt has enjoyed a string of Africa successes so far in 2025, most recently completing a genset installation at a telecommunications site in Guinea Bissau

The company supplied a P22 generator set, in partnership with Synergy, for telecoms group MTN in the West African country (pictured here).

The FG Wilson P22 and P33 gensets are “perfectly suited” to telecoms towers, the company noted in a statement, citing soundproof enclosures, safety options, large tanks and telemetry, with full customisation available.

Founded in 2011 by Damien Fétis, president of Secodi, GeniWatt was specially created for the distribution of FG Wilson generators in France, but has extended its footprint deeply into Africa.

West Africa, in particular, has proved fruitful ground so far during 2025.

That includes a string of orders from Cameroon, working together with another local partner, DM Approtech.

Together, the two companies have supplied generators to various groups and associations based in Yaoundé, the nation’s capital.

It includes a 110kVA FG Wilson emergency generator for the Association pour la Promotion de la Femme building, and another emergency generator with its source inverter for the Centre de Formation Sorawell, a separate entity created by the Association pour la Promotion de la Femme.

In addition, the two companies supplied a P22 generator for a new maternity unit financed by the Compassion Sans Frontière association.

Last year, GeniWatt also played a key role in a major dam project in Cameroon, modifying an FG Wilson open P150 for installation at the Nachtigal hydroelectric plant, which sits about 65 kilometres north-east of the capital.

The project included automatic load bank and oil top-up, dual starter with dual battery sets, NFE37-312 GSS2 compliance for safety, a tank with two electric pumps and a manual pump, conducted again alongside DM Approtech, with supervision from EDF to validate the specifications.

Nachtigal is a key strategic project for Cameroon, operated by a consortium that includes energy giant EDF.

The dam’s first turbine is now operational, with full commissioning expected during 2025.

With an expected total capacity of 420 MW, it will eventually cover nearly 30% of Cameroon’s energy needs with clean, available and inexpensive electricity.

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Industry users switching from HFO to gas

Tunisian businesses are transitioning from HFO to gas (Image source: AfDB)

In the industrial zones of northwestern Tunisia, a quiet revolution is transforming how businesses operate and communities live

Where heavy fuel oil (HFO) once dominated the energy landscape, natural gas now flows through newly constructed pipelines, bringing cleaner air and economic opportunity to a region that has long waited for such progress.

The contrast is striking when you visit facilities like SICAM, an agri-food company specialising in canned tomatoes, which has switched its plant from HFO to natural gas.

“With gas, we have eliminated pollution, reduced production costs and increased our efficiency. We save up to 500,000 Tunisian dinars per season,” said Kamel Trabelsi, SICAM’s deputy director general.

This transformation was made possible by the Natural Gas Transport and Distribution Network Development Project in Western Tunisia, implemented by state power utility, Société Tunisienne de l'Électricité et du Gaz (STEG), with €49.39mn (US$56.5mn) in financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The STEG project has expanded access to natural gas in historically underserved regions, including Béja Sud and Mjez Elbeb, connecting over 1,250 households to the network so far.

Eventually, the infrastructure will serve 13,500 subscribers across 19 municipalities in Tunisia's northwest, including 2,500 additional connections by the end of this year.

The roll out is already bringing material benefits to local industries, with SICAM connecting to the gas grid in October 2024.

"Thanks to natural gas, our boilers now reach 95% capacity in record time. Efficiency is up, maintenance is easier, and pollution has dropped significantly," added Trabelsi.

According to Mehdi Khoali, AfDB chief operations officer, “one of the project's most transformative outcomes is the gradual industrialisation of the serviced zones. Around 10 new industrial units — including brickyards and cement plants — have been established thanks to the gas supply. Others have expanded their operations. This is helping create jobs and strengthen regional economic resilience."

Mohamed Riadh Hellal, lead department head at STEG, and the project's coordinator, said the initiative “not only heats homes, but also boosts local economic activity.”

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