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Eskom’s Kendal Power Station Exceedances of Applicable Atmospheric Emission License Limit Values for Particulate Matter from April 2016 to March 2020
A technical review by Dr. Ranajit Sahu for the Centre for Environmental Rights analyzing particulate matter (PM) emissions at Eskom’s Kendal Power Station from April 2016 to March 2020. The report finds thousands of exceedances of the Atmospheric Emission License (AEL) limit, noting a significant increase in frequency starting in April 2018 and criticizing the failure of electrostatic precipitators and the quality of Eskom's emissions reporting.
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Document type: Report
WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A MORE RESILIENT FUTURE
This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) outlines a community-based approach to enhancing energy resilience in the Upper Roaring Fork Valley, Colorado, in partnership with Holy Cross Energy (HCE). Following the 2018 Lake Christine Fire, which nearly disabled power to the region, RMI led a five-month stakeholder process to identify and prioritize distributed energy solutions. The report advocates for a shift from traditional grid hardening and isolated backup generators toward integrated distributed energy resources (DERs) that provide both emergency backup ("black sky") and daily operational ("blue sky") value.
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Document type: Report
Eskom’s Kendal Power Station Exceedances of Applicable Atmospheric Emission License Limit Values for Particulate Matter from April 2016 to March 2020
A technical report by Dr. Ranajit Sahu for the Centre for Environmental Rights analyzing particulate matter (PM) emissions at Eskom’s Kendal Power Station from April 2016 to March 2020. The analysis finds thousands of exceedances of the Atmospheric Emission License (AEL) limit, suggesting that the plant's electrostatic precipitators are failing and recommending the installation of fabric filters or the shutdown of the facility.
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Document type: Report
Comments on the Provisional Atmospheric Emission License (PAEL) Issued to Thabametsi Power Company (Pty) Ltd.
This report by Dr. Ranajit Sahu provides technical comments on the Provisional Atmospheric Emission License (PAEL) issued to Thabametsi Power Company (Pty) Ltd. The author argues that the PAEL permits the use of outdated, inefficient sub-critical Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) technology and relies on flawed Atmospheric Impact Reports (AIRs) that underestimate pollution impacts. Sahu contends that the plant will exacerbate existing air quality violations in the Waterberg Bojanala Priority Area and that the license lacks adequate emissions monitoring and control requirements.
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Document type: Report
OBJECTIONS TO THE 22 MAY 2019 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LIST OF ACTIVITIES AND ASSOCIATED MINIMUM EMISSION STANDARDS IDENTIFIED IN TERMS OF SECTION 21 OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: AIR QUALITY ACT 39 OF 2004
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing the Life After Coal campaign and several environmental justice alliances, formally objects to a proposed amendment by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries to double the Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Minimum Emission Standard (MES) for new plants in sub-category 1.1 from 500 mg/Nm3 to 1000 mg/Nm3. The CER argues that this weakening of standards is unlawful, violates the South African Constitution's right to a healthy environment, and would lead to significant premature deaths and exacerbated air pollution in priority areas.
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Document type: Statement
Comments on the Revised Atmospheric Impact Report (AIR) for the Thabametsi Power Plant prepared by uMOYA-NILU
Dr. Ranajit (Ron) Sahu provides a critique of the revised Atmospheric Impact Report (AIR) for the proposed Thabametsi Power Plant, asserting that the revised document fails to address most technical deficiencies identified in a previous review of the April 2018 AIR.
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Document type: Report
INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF DECISIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION TO ISSUE A WATER USE LICENSE TO KIPOWER (PTY) LTD, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE
An independent review finds that the Water Use License issued to KiPower (Pty) Ltd by the South African Department of Water and Sanitation is legally and technically flawed. The review concludes that the DWS failed to correctly identify and authorise necessary water uses, provided incorrect property and location data, and included compliance specifications that are largely invalid or unmeasurable. Furthermore, the DWS is accused of ignoring critical resource quality objectives for the Wilge River and attempting to shift historic mining remediation liabilities to KiPower, rendering the decision to issue the license unreasonable and an error in law.
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Document type: Report
IWULA, IWUL and Specialist Investigation Review of the Yzermyn Colliery Mpumalanga
This report, prepared by GCS Water and Environment (Pty) Ltd for the Centre for Environmental Rights, reviews the Integrated Water Use License Application (IWULA) and the resulting Integrated Water Use License (IWUL) issued to Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd for the proposed Yzermyn underground coal mine in Mpumalanga. The review identifies significant gaps in the specialist studies regarding hydrogeology, wetlands, and hydrology, concluding that the IWUL was issued without a full understanding of the environmental impacts and the interconnection between water resources.
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Document type: Report
The Final Carbon Fatcat
This report by Sandbag analyzes how flaws in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) have created perverse incentives for the European cement sector, leading to over-allocation of free allowances and a failure to incentivize deep decarbonization. The authors argue that the ETS has effectively subsidized the production of high-carbon clinker, resulting in a net import of emissions into the EU.
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Document type: Report
GRID FLEXIBILITY: METHODS FOR MODERNIZING THE POWER GRID
This report by Energy Innovation examines the necessity of grid flexibility to integrate increasing shares of variable renewable energy. It details short-term operational improvements, long-term planning strategies, and various physical and market-based resources—such as demand response and energy storage—that can balance supply and demand dynamically.
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Document type: Report
Penggunaan Data untuk Mengoptimalisasikan Sumber Daya Lahan Indonesia
This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the use of Natural Capital Assessment (NCA) to optimize land resource allocation in Indonesia. It argues that integrating social, biophysical, and economic data into spatial planning can help Indonesia achieve economic growth targets while minimizing deforestation and social conflict.
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Document type: Report
NET ENERGY METERING, ZERO NET ENERGY AND THE DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCE FUTURE
This report, produced by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) for PG&E, examines the impact of distributed energy resources (DERs) and Zero Net Energy (ZNE) buildings on California's electricity system. It identifies misalignments between current utility business models and the shift toward decentralized generation, proposing a transition toward new pricing structures and regulatory frameworks to ensure grid stability and cost equity.
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Document type: Report
Strengthening Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) for REDD+
This research paper explores the technical and institutional challenges of establishing Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems for REDD+ in developing countries. It emphasizes the need for clear definitions of 'forest' and 'reference levels' (RL/REL), the utility of nested approaches to scale subnational efforts to national levels, and the critical role of capacity building and stakeholder involvement to ensure the credibility of carbon credits.
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Document type: Research paper
Global Review of Sanitation System Trends and Interactions with Menstrual Management Practices Report for the Menstrual Management and Sanitation Systems Project
This 2011 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the relationship between urban sanitation system trends in developing regions and the disposal of menstrual absorption materials. It identifies that menstrual products, particularly those with super-absorbent materials, frequently cause blockages in water-borne sewerage systems and accelerate the filling of on-site pit latrines. The report argues that menstrual management is largely ignored in sanitation design and advocates for the integration of women's needs and the promotion of solid waste disposal routes for menstrual materials.
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Document type: Report
Climate Change Mitigation through Land Use Measures in the Agriculture and Forestry Sectors
This research paper examines the potential for climate change mitigation through land-use measures in the agriculture and forestry sectors, focusing on the challenges of integrating these sectors into international policy frameworks like the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. It analyzes technical barriers such as permanence and leakage, the role of REDD in developing countries, and Canada's domestic approach to carbon accounting and emissions trading.
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Document type: Research paper
Atténuer les changements climatiques grâce aux mesures d’utilisation des terres dans les secteurs de l’agriculture et de la foresterie
This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) in climate change mitigation. It analyzes the potential for carbon sequestration in developing countries, the technical and financial obstacles to including these sectors in international agreements, and the specific policy positions and regulatory frameworks of Canada.
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Document type: Briefing
BIOFUELS SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA
This report, commissioned by the European Parliament, evaluates sustainability criteria for the proposed EU Directive on renewable energy, specifically focusing on liquid biofuels. It analyzes the potential for biofuel production globally and within Europe, the impacts of land-use change on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the feasibility of using degraded lands for energy crops. The document provides technical critiques of GHG accounting methodologies and suggests harmonizing EU standards with international frameworks like the IPCC and UNFCCC to ensure environmental integrity and global equity.
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Document type: Report
Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet
This 2006 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines technologies and maintenance practices to improve fuel efficiency in passenger vehicles and light trucks, noting a decline in average US fuel economy since 1987.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Cleaner Energy, Greener Profits
This 2005 report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that fuel cells can be cost-effective distributed energy resources (DER) by capturing economic benefits beyond simple energy generation, such as deferring utility distribution investments and providing premium reliability for the digital economy.
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Document type: Report
11-4d604f093b78e1d1.pdf
This report, prepared by GCS Water and Environment (Pty) Ltd for the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), reviews the Integrated Water Use License Application (IWULA) and the resulting license (IWUL) issued to Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd for the proposed Yzermyn underground coal mine in Mpumalanga. GCS concludes that the specialist studies supporting the license are fundamentally flawed, containing significant data gaps and low-confidence modeling. The review highlights a high risk of irreversible damage to sensitive wetlands and groundwater resources, noting that the IWUL lacks sufficient conditions to mitigate these impacts and fails to authorize critical post-closure water treatment needs.
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Document type: Report