Industry association the South African National Energy Association (SANEA) has named the winners of the 2021 Energy Awards, who were acknowledged for their contribution to the energy sector and the country’s energy community.

The Energy Shapeshifter award was awarded to Lethabo Manamela, the interim CEO of the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI).

Under her leadership, SANEDI achieved 97% of its yearly targets, despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which placed considerable restrictions on funding and logistical rollout of initiatives, notes SANEA. SANEDI has achieved two years of clean audits.

The International Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) awarded the 2021 Sub-Saharan Africa Region Institutional Energy Management Award to SANEDI.

Further, the Project Award was awarded to ACWA Power for the Redstone concentrating solar power (CSP) project.

SANEA says the project represents a key milestone for ACWA Power, and is also a landmark transaction under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) for tower CSP technology.

As a sponsor, over the period of eight years, ACWA Power remained steadfast in supporting the project given the importance of this project to its growth in Southern Africa as well as the success of the REIPPPP itself, the company notes.

A Project Award was also awarded to Jayne Ross-Jones. SANEA says that, throughout Jones’ years at utility Eskom, her contribution to energy loss reduction activities has seen to the development and rollout of the feeder balancing model, and that she has shown a passion for analysis and the ability to use the results effectively to help support the operating unit.

Jones produces weekly reports that quantify and monitor the energy loss reduction activities and the value gained from them. This nomination goes beyond the aforementioned feeder balancing initiative and is also in recognition for all the accompanying analyses and activities performed by Jayne to support KwaZulu-Natal's and national loss reduction initiatives, SANEA notes.

The Education Award was awarded to Roger Thompson, a professional electrical and renewable energy professional.

With this background, he has provided a significant contribution to the renewable energy sector through education, notes SANEA.

The Women Entrepreneur Award was awarded to Vash Singh, who has achieved the status of being the second South African National Accreditation System-accredited inspection body to issue energy performance certificates in South Africa, and the only level 1 broad-based black economic empowerment, 100% black-women owned company to do so.

The Your Award was awarded to Rosalind Dos Santos, the group energy manager for Mpact group.

SANEA says she is making a critical and intense contribution to the company's sustainability strategy.

The Journalism Award was awarded to Terence Creamer, editor of Engineering News and deputy editor for Mining Weekly.

SANEA says his long-standing support for the organisation demonstrates his alignment with critical thinking and non-partisan views in the sector.

The Service Award was awarded to Segomocco Scheepers.

This is an internal association award, through which the board recognised the service of Scheepers and his contribution during his tenure as a board member.

SANEA says that he has always availed himself to play a role in SANEA's work and has facilitated SANEA's operations and outcomes by exercising his sector and organisational influence wherever he could make a difference.