The Energy Quadrilemma in South Africa
Prof Vally Padayachee spoke to ESI Africa on “Rethinking South Africa’s Energy Future From A Quadrilemma Perspective”
Jul 18, 2025•7 min
ESI Africa Podcast
Join us as we talk about the things that matter most to the power, energy and water sectors in Africa.
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Episodes
Changes to electricity tariffs in South Africa
Power and energy expert Prof Vally Padayachee spoke to ESI Africa about the ever-evolving challenges and opportunities within South Africa's electricity energy sector, with focus on the intricate dynamics and shifts in electricity tariff design (fixed and variable costs).
Jul 01, 2025•9 min
Vally Padayachee on SSEG installation compliance in SA
Prof Vally Padayachee spoke to ESI Africa about a position paper he has written on a proposed standardised, harmonised and affordability-driven compliance management framework for the safe installation of SSEG infrastructure in South Africa, which can also further progress the just energy transition and drive economic growth.
Jun 24, 2025•6 min
Vally Padayachee on infrastructure development
Power and energy expert Prof Vally Padayachee spoke to ESI Africa about insights gleaned the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa held in the last week of May in Cape Town, RSA.
May 30, 2025•5 min
Chanelle Hingston on Enlit Africa evolution
Chanelle Hingston, Group Director: Power, Energy and Water, VUKA Group, stepped into the ESI Africa Studio at Enlit Africa to talk about one of the continent’s flagship events for dialogue. She spoke to ESI Africa Editor-In-Chief Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl about the evolution of the event and what comes next.
May 26, 2025•5 min
Vally Padayachee on Enlit Africa 2025
Energy expert Vally Padayachee weighs in on his thoughts on Enlit Africa 2025, recently held at the CTICC in Cape Town, SA. Post-event, Padayachee gives a brief overview of his impressions on speakers, workshops and interactions.
May 26, 2025•2 min
Vally Padayachee on virtual wheeling
Energy Expert Vally Padayachee explains what are the challenges that can prevent municipalities from fully benefiting from the “Virtual Wheeling of Electricity.”
May 21, 2025•2 min
Blackout vs Loadshedding
Power and energy expert, Prof Vally Padayachee spoke to ESI Africa about the difference between loadshedding and a power blackout. He elaborates specifically on why the South African electricity network more secure than that of the Iberian Peninsula which experienced a total grid collapse and a major power blackout on 28 April 2025.
May 08, 2025•2 min
The role of nuclear in SA's energy mix
In this interview, Loyiso Tyabashe, Group CEO of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), speaks with ESI Africa about the role of nuclear in South Africa's energy mix, the importance of transparent communication, the skills needed and more.
May 02, 2025•23 min
Municipal revenue and service delivery
Municipalities are looking new ways to sustain electricity distribution and meet basic financial obligations, explains Qhakazile Mathebula, Senior Manager: Project Management Office at City Power in Johannesburg. She will be part of a panel on Strategies to increase financial sustainability, resilience and revenue generation at Enlit Africa 2025 which runs from 20-22 May at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Apr 30, 2025•4 min
Energy Availability Factor
Energy Expert Vally Padayachee explains the importance of the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) and why South Africans need to pay attention to this metric when trying to understand loadshedding.
Apr 29, 2025•2 min
Navigating the micro-grid revolution in South Africa
Listen as ESI Africa Editor-in-Chief, Nicolette Pombo van-Zyl, speaks to Nick Singh, Head of the Smart Grid Centre of Excellence at Eskom Research, Testing and Development. In this ESI Africa podcast episode, we uncover Eskom's perspective and plans for the microgrid market.
Jan 31, 2024•28 min
Wings and Wind: A Conservation Symphony
In a world where sustainability and clean energy are more critical than ever, the marriage of wind power and avian preservation takes centre stage. In this podcast, we speak to Sam Ralston, Birds and Renewable Energy Manager at BirdLife South Africa, and explore the delicate balance between harnessing the power of the wind and ensuring the survival of our feathered friends.
Dec 08, 2023•24 min
Bioenergy offers Africa an abundant and sustainable power source
Listen as ESI Africa speaks to Simon Ighofose, co-founder and CEO of bioenergy tech start-up PyroGenesys which has developed a waste-to-energy system to generate electricity using the pyrochemy chemical process.
Jan 20, 2023•38 min
Everything you need to know about Formula E in Cape Town
Listen to this exclusive interview with Iain Banner, Chairman and Co-founder of e-Movement Pty Ltd. which will host the upcoming E-Fest, showcasing e-mobility through the "fastest sustainable motoring event in the world".
Dec 09, 2022•21 min
Creating energy access across Africa, one battery at a time
Listen as ESI Africa speaks to Luke Burras, co-founder of Mobile Power which uses a pay-per-swap battery to provide everything from batteries for small EVs to lighting for homes and electricity supply to power small DC appliances.
Nov 23, 2022•26 min
Aceleron: Advancing the circular economy through sustainable battery technology
Listen as ESI Africa speaks to Amrit Chandan, CEO and co-founder of UK-based advanced lithium battery developer Aceleron, about empowering people to benefit from sustainable battery technology through the use of a modular battery that can be easily serviced, maintained and upgraded.
Nov 08, 2022•24 min
The link between water and design for blue-green cities in Africa
Listen as landscape architect Kathrin Krause explains the link between water and design and how she tries to incorporate sustainable practices into her work.
Oct 17, 2022•19 min
In conversation with Energy Exemplar
Listen as David Robertson, the Vice President of Solutions for Energy Exemplar, speaks with ESI Africa editor, Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl, about PLEXOS, a unified energy modelling and forecasting software platform, and how it contributes positively to utility efficiency.
Sep 26, 2022•34 min
Solar is not the solution, says Sicelo Xulu
Here, Sicelo Xulu, the Chief Engineering Officer at PWD Xperts, former Managing Director at City Power Johannesburg and the previous president of the AMEU, provides his solo commentary on the current energy crisis and South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa's plans to address these challenges.
Sep 26, 2022•31 min
Africa the grey area. In conversation with Connie Ochola-Iseme from Lucy Electric
"Based on...what was agreed upon in the Paris Agreement and the slow evolution into COP26 whereby the developed countries promised developing countries to tackle climate change, you find that...these developing countries...are on a different page. Developing countries are still trying to eradicate poverty and are still dealing with development agendas. Clearly, they are in need of more support to focus on the climate.” In November 2021, much of the industry news was dominated by conversations, d...
Dec 10, 2021•19 min
Rail in Africa could lead the way for public transport
This podcast outlines what the role of rail is in smarter mobility and how it can be integrated into public transport as one of the main modes of transport used in South Africa. Anazi Zote, Project Lead for Smarter Mobility Africa had a one-on-one interview with Makgola Makololo, Director: Business Development, Sales and Marketing at Alstom to catch up on the latest trends for rail in South Africa and how its transition into smart mobility will impact public transport and trade across the contin...
Nov 12, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1
How far can we electrify our buses and minibus taxis in Africa? What is the timeline?
Fleet operators constitute the bulk of brand-new motor vehicle purchases across the continent. Fleet operators will play a pivotal role in the electrification of fleets because they are repeat customers – require consistent maintenance and service as well as car renewals. Is Africa running behind or ahead of the timeline to electrify its fleets? A comparison between two cities A strategy to go fully electric Shaping policy and the government’s role in early electric vehicle adoption Understandin...
Oct 06, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 2
How do we integrate walking into urban transport and infrastructure development planning?
70-90% of African cities are walking but without adequate infrastructure It causes huge fatalities and risk of safety How city planners can develop a safe zone for pedestrians? Which cities and countries are trying to do things differently? What challenges are city planners faced with in trying to change infrastructure for walking? How can cities overcome these challenges? Speaker: Chris Kost, Africa Program Director at Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) Africa (Kenya)...
Oct 06, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Collaborating to deliver energy to underserved communities
Wim Jonker Klunne speaks to Enlit Africa's Claire Volkwyn about the Household Solar Funders Group, an initiative which brings together 36 funders active in the field of household solar in Africa. The aim is to accelerate access to energy (SDG7) through collaboration on activities which address market barriers and benefit from a collective approach. “Collaboration will help in providing energy access to currently unserved populations and is needed to protect and expand the impact achieved to date...
Apr 29, 2021•24 min
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