JASON CRAWFORD

PROJECT MANAGER, NEW SOUTHERN ENERGY

As a fully vertically integrated independent power producer (IPP), we design, invest, build, operate and maintain our own portfolio of energy assets.

Key Highlights

Together with its strategic partners, in East Africa specifically, NSE secured a project portfolio of 4 3 MWp for the rollout of grid-tied solar solutions to a major building services conglomerate.

NSE anticipates large private sector investment to continue to scale South Africa’s energy generation capacity

NSE anticipates an improvement in local policy and legislation throughout Africa, as well as immense private sector investment to accelerate the energy transition

Please brief us about the services New Southern Energy provides.

Founded in 2010, New Southern Energy has become one of the leading renewable energy solution providers to the commercial and industrial markets in Southern and East Africa

As a fully vertically integrated independent power producer (IPP), we design, invest, build, operate and maintain our own portfolio of energy assets Our end-to-end solutions include project development, project permitting & licensing, project contracting and funding, network planning and off-site energy generation through wheeling This enables us to provide holistic renewable energy solutions that allow for maximum renewable energy penetration, significant reductions in carbon emissions, improved energy security and energy cost savings

What have been some of the major projects for NSE in 2022?

Despite the economic and political mayhem that has impacted many companies worldwide, 2022 was a year of continued growth and innovation at NSE, Having expanded our pipeline, NSE has emerged from the pandemic stronger Together with its strategic partners, in East Africa specifically,

NSE secured a project portfolio of 4 3 MWp for the rollout of grid-tied solar solutions to a major building services conglomerate In other parts of Africa, we, commissioned landmark sites and continued our portfolio development

What do you have to say about Southern Africa's solar market at present?

2022 was another challenging year for the South African energy sector The national utility, Eskom recently declared a state of emergency for the national grid, with no end to rolling power outages in sight The urgent need for alternative energy generation capacity has been compounded by the climate crisis, which has prompted the need for large-scale energy infrastructure investment to help meet COP27 renewable energy targets

Owing to the increasing blackouts in the country, depleted fuel reserves and the excessive increase in the cost of power, NSE believes that several opportunities are expected to be presented for the market players in South Africa to bridge the supply and demand gap With solar energy being one of the most readily accessible and inexpensive resources in South Africa, NSE anticipates large private sector investment to continue to scale South Africa’s energy generation capacity

What is your solar market outlook for the African region for 2023?

Africa faces some complex energy problems and we at NSE believe that renewable energy is key to enabling Africa to reach its full potential Although progress has been made to drive renewable energy development and investment in Africa, there still exists the need to establish electricity infrastructure such as power stations, transmission and distribution grids to electrify the continent With Africa being set to home more than a quarter of the world’s population by 2050, NSE believes that solar energy is the most suitable energy source to alleviate the increasing pressure on its resources As such, NSE anticipates an improvement in local policy and legislation throughout Africa, as well as immense private sector investment to accelerate the energy transition

What can we expect from NSE in 2023?

Considering that only a nominal percentage of the continent’s population has access to power, we believe that our solutions can contribute to building sustainable economies and improving quality of life Our mission is to do exactly that through playing a role in developing increased self-generation renewable energy capacity across the continent

For more details, visit: https://newsouthernenergy com