Latest news with #RedRocket
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Laysla De Oliveira to Star in ‘Cowboy,' the Debut Feature From Midland's Cameron Duddy (Exclusive)
Laysla De Oliveira is slated to co-star in upcoming rodeo flick Cowboy, the directorial debut feature film from Cameron Duddy, bass player for country band Midland, The Hollywood Reporter can reveal. De Oliveira (Lioness, Locke & Key, Guest of Honour) joins a cast that had already included Ben Foster, Rudy Pankow, Gabriel Basso, Midland lead singer Mark Wystrach and retired NFL veteran Taylor Lewan. More from The Hollywood Reporter Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham's Only Studio Album Gets Upcoming Reissue and Digital Release Alicia Keys Officially Launches 'Hell's Kitchen'-Inspired Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation Scooter Braun's Response to Still-Angry Taylor Swift Fans on Catalog Purchase: "They Made the Horrible Miscalculation That I Care" Cowboy follows the story of Foster's Lee 'Babe' Midnight, described as a 'washed-up rodeo legend drifting between small-time shows and shady deals' who ends up becoming a mentor to Pankow's young aspiring rodeo rider Clif Casey. De Oliveira will play Alejandra, Lee's ex-girlfriend and mother to an 11-month-old son. Other than De Oliveira, Cowboy also adds Simon Rex (Red Rocket), Carlos Pratts (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, McFarland, USA) and Cameron Sault in supporting roles, the latter of whom is making his acting debut. Rex will play Lee's former rodeo partner who's now wheel chair-bound following a riding accident, while Pratts will play another successful rodeo rider. Sault will play Steve, 'a rough and rowdy member of the road dogs group Vaqueros Galacticos' who Like Sault himself, is deaf. Sault was discovered through Deafinitely For All Entertainment, a Deaf founded production company focused on highlighting the deaf and hard of hearing community in the entertainment business. Cowboy is the first picture coming out of Paint Horse Pictures, a new banner out of Range Media Partners' Nashville division. Duddy and Midland are management clients at Range's Music division, which also represents artists including Shaboozey, Jack Harlow and Noah Cyrus. When first announcing Cowboy last month, Paint Horse said it is looking to 'produce films deeply rooted in Americana and its pioneering spirit, bringing compelling narratives from the backroads to big screens.' Prior to his feature-length debut, Duddy was also a respected music video director, directing the videos for hits like Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' 'Uptown Funk,' Mars' '24K Magic, Fifth Harmony's 'Worth It' and John Mayer's 'Last Train Home,' among others. Cowboy's screenplay comes from Adair Cole, based on a story Duddy wrote with Midland guitarist Jess Carson. 'This is a personal story for me,' Duddy said in a statement when the film was announced in June. 'It's a film about what it takes to grind it out on the road chasing your dreams, and the emotional and physical toll it takes on all of us, most of all the people we love.' Cowboy's producers include Endgame Entertainment's Lucas Smith, Range executives Matt Graham and William Lowery, Ian Bryce of Ian Bryce Productions and Sydney Allen of Paint Horse. Foster is also executive producing with David Keinath and Jordan Yospe for DFA entertainment. The other executive producers include Brightlight Productions' Shawn Williamson and Endgame's James D. Stern. Range Select is co-representing the film's global film rights alongside UTA's Independent Film Group. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Greatest Needle Drops in Film History The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best Solve the daily Crossword
IOL News
02-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
As wind energy gains momentum, lack of grid infrastructure remains a bottleneck
Wind turbines lined up at Rietkloof Wind Farm. Interest in wind energy has gained significant momentum in South Africa, says the author. Image: Supplied Interest in wind energy has gained significant momentum in South Africa, driven by recent policy reforms and growing private sector demand, opening up new opportunities for investment. Private sector projects like Discovery Green in the Western Cape, Seriti Green in Mpumalanga, and Red Rocket in the Overberg are set to add nearly 700 MW of privately financed, wheeled wind power to South Africa's energy mix, which will significantly bolster the country's renewable energy capacity. However, the lack of grid infrastructure could prove to be a stumbling block in unlocking this potential, as there is a current shortage of transmission capacity to connect these new wind projects to the national grid. Unlocking opportunity Wind power was under-represented in the latest government procurement rounds, as they focused heavily on solar. However, there remains a massive opportunity for wind power to contribute meaningfully to South Africa's energy mix and large-scale, privately financed projects are emerging to take advantage. Among them is the Overberg wind farm, developed by Red Rocket in the Western Cape. With a planned capacity of 380 MW and the first 242 MW phase reaching financial close in early 2025, it will be South Africa's largest privately driven wind project once complete. The project is backed by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Richards Bay Minerals and will deliver power through a wheeling arrangement on Eskom's grid. Also contributing to this shift are the Discovery Green and Seriti Green wind farms. Discovery Green's 150 MW wind project in the Western Cape is designed to supply corporate customers directly via wheeling agreements. Meanwhile, Seriti Green's 155 MW Ummbila Emoyeni wind farm in Mpumalanga will provide around 75% of Seriti Resources' coal operations' energy needs. Together, these three projects will inject 685 MW of new wind capacity into the national grid. Wheeling strategies are key in delivering this wind power to customers, allowing Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to directly deliver energy generated to their customers. However, to fully realise the potential of this private-sector momentum, significant investment in transmission infrastructure will be needed to unlock grid access in renewable-rich regions. The stumbling block to success As wind power and wheeling are gaining traction, they are exposing a critical bottleneck: ageing and limited grid capacity. South Africa currently has a shortfall of around 14 000 km of transmission lines, and just 4 000 km has been shortlisted for upgrades, although no contracts have been issued. This is a key barrier to further adoption, not only of wind power but of any renewable energy solutions. The International Energy Agency's recent report, Building the Future Transmission Grid, highlights that this is not a uniquely South African problem. Demand for new transmission is surging globally, and grid infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with renewable deployment. According to the report, by mid‑2024 there were around 1 650 GW of wind and solar projects around the world stalled waiting for grid connection. These projects face indefinite delays unless grid expansion accelerates, but there are two major challenges: rising costs and long lead times for key equipment. For South Africa, this means that despite a wealth of projects and interest, wheeling and full grid integration are constrained without urgent transmission upgrades, which will take time and require significant investment. Accelerating and modernising South Africa's grid To unlock the full potential of renewable energy projects, fast-tracking grid capacity expansion is critical. For South Africa, this includes streamlining bureaucracy in transmission tenders, enabling projects to move quickly from planning to construction. The IEA report supports this requirement, highlighting that coordinated demand visibility, simplified permitting, and reformed procurement processes are essential to accelerate progress. Alongside expansion, investing in modernisation and smart grid technologies can optimise existing infrastructure. Digital systems such as real-time monitoring, dynamic line rating, and automation help relieve bottlenecks and delay the need for costly large-scale grid buildouts. To further strengthen the grid, South Africa should secure supply chain resilience by pursuing long-term contracts and bulk purchasing of key components like cables and transformers to combat global shortages and rising prices. Additionally, developing a skilled local grid workforce is vital. The IEA projects a global shortfall of 1.5 million grid-sector workers by 2030. South Africa needs to invest in training engineers, line workers, and technicians to manage and maintain its expanding transmission network effectively. Modernisation is the key Wind energy in South Africa is gaining traction not just through government tenders, but increasingly through private wheeling, letting IPPs connect directly to buyers across the country. However, without rapid expansion of transmission lines, smart grid integration, and streamlined policy, both wheeling and the green energy transition will not be able to reach their full potential. A new concept of wireless electricity transmission could also be an alternative. A coordinated approach to the problem is critical. We need to accelerate transmission expansion, harness smart technologies, secure supply chains, and build workforce capacity. South Africa has the natural resources along with corporate appetite for renewable energy and the capability to drive the energy transition forward. What we need is the infrastructure to make this possible. Viren Sookhun, MD at Oxyon People Solutions Image: Supplied
Business Upturn
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Upturn
Unplugged Performance to Showcase Tesla Builds at Electrify Expo – North America's Largest EV Festival
LOS ANGELES, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Unplugged Performance, the world leader in Tesla-focused performance upgrades, is headed to Electrify Expo, North America's premier electric vehicle lifestyle event. Taking place this weekend June 21st & 22nd, Electrify Expo invites EV enthusiasts, media, and families for an immersive look at the future of electrification. Unplugged Performance will be displaying four of its latest builds at the show, each with upgrades tailored for parts performance, durability, and everyday driving. Advertisement Tesla Model 3 Performance 'Red Rocket' Track Build Built to dominate the track and the streets, car features our: UP Race Pro Coilovers with Adaptive Canceller UP Carbon Fiber Front Aero Kit + Rear Dual Spoiler and Wing Set Up + Rear Spats and Diffuser 18×10.9 UP-03 Forged Wheels Yokohama ADVAN A052 295/35R18 Tires Satin Red 2026 Tesla Model Y Off-Road/Street Build Adventure-ready, this MY build includes our: UP 35mm Leveling Lift Kit Off-Road Spec 18″ UP-05 Forged Wheels Off-Road Sway Bar + End Links Yokohama GEOLANDAR Tires UP INVINCIBLE® Cybertruck Street Build The ultimate Tesla Cybertruck to take on anything on earth and beyond with: HD Front & Rear Bumpers, Bull Bar, Rock Sliders Carbon Fiber Hood w/ 50' LED Light Bar Side Sail Panel MOLLE Rack System 22' CYBRHEX Forged Wheels Yokohama GEOLANDAR Tires Quicksilver 2026 Tesla Model Y Off-Road/Street Build Ready for the streets, this MY build includes our: 22' UP Forged CYBRHEX Wheels Moderate option Dual Rate Lowering Springs Yokohama Parada Spex-X Tires Learn more about our products at Media Contact: Bryan Benitez [email protected] Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How Western Cape is leading the charge in renewable energy
The Western Cape is positioning itself as a significant player in South Africa's renewable energy sector, as Premier Winde acknowledged the contributions of independent power producers (IPPs) such as Red Rocket to the province's energy resilience efforts. Premier Winde hosted Matteo Brambilla, CEO of Cape Town-based energy firm Red Rocket, during a special 'on-the-road' edition of the province's weekly energy digicon. The event was held at the company's head office, where Winde toured its state-of-the-art 'Command Centre', a digital hub that tracks real-time energy generation across Red Rocket's renewable projects stretching from the Western Cape to Uganda. Winde said the Western Cape Energy Resilience Programme aims to support the private sector and municipalities in generating a reliable and affordable supply of energy.
Daily Maverick
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Hi-tech protection for birds at risk from SA's wind turbine farms
What has been described as 'South Africa's first automated bird protection system' has gone live at Red Rocket's Brandvalley and Rietkloof wind farms, using AI-powered detection and turbine shutdowns to protect vulnerable species. An automated bird protection system has been installed at Red Rocket's wind farms between the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces in South Africa with advanced shutdown-on-demand functionality. The system has been fully installed and is active at the 144MW Brandvalley and 144MW Rietkloof Wind Farms, which announced the commencement of commercial operations in April and are the first two projects under Round 5 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) to take on this technology. Developed in partnership with international avian monitoring specialists Bioseco, the system uses advanced detection and shutdown-on-demand technology to prevent bird collisions with turbine blades – a persistent and controversial issue in wind energy development. The system employs a suite of optical sensors and intelligent software to continuously monitor the airspace around selected turbines in bird-sensitive areas. When a bird is detected approaching the danger zone, the system first deploys visual and audio deterrents. If the bird continues on a collision course, it automatically triggers a temporary shutdown of the turbine, allowing the bird to pass safely. How it works is that modern camera-based systems, like the Bioseco Bird Protection System (BPS), mount six to eight stereovision modules on each turbine tower. The cameras monitor birds in real time, 360 degrees around the turbine. Red Rocket's environmental and social manager, Ashleigh von der Heyden, and Sustainable Investments director Magdalena Michalowska Logan explained. They said the system was configured to detect various sizes of bird species based on the wingspan of the species. And when a bird (or flock) under conservation concern enters the 'danger zone', the system can initiate different tiers of mitigation, starting with non-harmful deterrent mechanisms, then moving on to automated turbine shutdown. In case of automatic shutdown, Von Der Heyden and Logan said the relevant turbine received a 'stop command' and feathered its blades until the bird/birds had cleared the zone, after which it automatically restarted. Depending on the turbine technology, they said it would typically take about 40 seconds to shut down the turbine. This, in turn, was considered when sizing the trigger zone, along with bird species that would initiate such a command to shut the turbine down. What they sought to ensure, according to Von Der Heyden and Logan, was that species of conservation concern were effectively protected through the implementation of tailored, fit-for-purpose mitigation measures – whether technological, operational or human-led across all their wind farm operations. 'This represents a huge leap forward over the current traditional, manually operated methods,' said Red Rocket CEO Matteo Brambilla in a media release. Bioseco's commercial manager, Magda Bielawska, echoed the sentiment: 'Our mission is not only to protect birds, but to enhance wind-energy production through intelligent environmental integration.' Why bird collisions matter Wind energy's rapid expansion in South Africa – driven by the REIPPPP – has brought both environmental benefits and new challenges. While wind farms help reduce fossil fuel dependence and curb greenhouse gas emissions, they can also pose significant risks to bird populations. A 2017 report by BirdLife South Africa, reviewing the first operational wind farms under REIPPPP, found that diurnal raptors accounted for 36% of recorded fatalities, with songbirds making up 26%. Notably, threatened species such as the blue crane, Verreaux's eagle, martial eagle and black harrier were among those killed by turbine collisions. The mean fatality rate was estimated at 4.1 birds per turbine per year, placing South Africa within the range observed in North America and Europe, but with particular concern for local species that may be more vulnerable due to their limited ranges or conservation status. The report's authors stressed that, while the data were preliminary and based on a limited number of sites and years, a precautionary approach was warranted: 'The best mitigation technique is clearly the avoidance of any fatalities, however, this is not always possible and the importance of continuous monitoring during operation is therefore of utmost importance.' Bird collisions at wind farms in SA Daily Maverick previously reported that birds from at least 200 species have had fatal collisions with wind turbines in South Africa, and that almost every wind farm in the country has recorded fatalities of threatened and priority species. In earlier rounds of renewable energy development under the REIPPPP, avian protection relied primarily on manual observation and/or human-led shutdown-on-demand protocols. Von Der Heyden and Logan said these methods remained a valuable tool in a broader mitigation strategy and continue to be used where appropriate at their wind farms. But they said that the industry had evolved significantly, as had scientific understanding, regulatory guidance and stakeholder expectations. 'The deployment of the Bioseco system is not intended to replace traditional methods, but to complement them – enhancing real-time responsiveness and contributing valuable data to support long-term monitoring outcomes,' they said. The teams assess each project individually to determine the most appropriate combination of mitigation measures based on the species present, site conditions and the best available science. BirdLife South Africa (BLSA) has been looking at an estimated rate of around 3-4 birds killed per turbine per year (across all species) with more than 1,400 turbines operating in 2023. According to BLSA, one wind farm reported almost 50 birds killed per turbine per year, mostly swifts (ie not threatened). Against this backdrop, BLSA welcomed the implementation of shutdown on demand at wind farms and believed most facilities in South Africa should adopt this strategy, either using technology or observers. Samantha Ralston-Paton, the birds and renewable energy project manager at BLSA, said this was an important tool to help address bird collisions. BLSA will soon publish a handbook on Shutdown on Demand (both technology-led and observer-led) to help developers, bird specialists and decision-makers implement shutdown on demand effectively. 'Not a silver bullet' But, Ralston-Paton warned, shutdown on demand was not a silver bullet. 'It should never replace careful site selection and avoidance of areas where there is a high risk of bird collisions (eg near eagle nests),' she said. The effectiveness of technology-led shutdown on demand will be influenced by the technology used, site, and species — ie the topography, number and location of devices installed, size of the target species and detection range. Red Rocket acknowledged that the technology was not a comprehensive answer, but said that it performed a mitigation and monitoring function that superseded humans' capabilities and was not as weather dependent as human-based monitoring. 'This technology is promising for the ecological benefit of bird species that live in and around wind turbine facilities,' Von Der Heyden and Logan said. Being the first technology in South Africa used solely for mitigating bird strikes, they said the technology would be monitored by independent bird specialists and the Red Rocket Team. Previously, Ralston-Paton said that when it came to birds, the issue was not so much the impact of individual wind farms, but the cumulative effect of multiple wind farms, added to existing pressures on many bird species. She used the example of the black harrier, which is classified as endangered. The actual number of black harriers lost thus far may not seem huge, but increasing the fatality rate by just 3-5 birds a year would accelerate its path to extinction, Ralston-Paton said. 'The population is already really small, with around 1,200 mature individuals,' she said. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) says the proliferation of wind farms in the core black harrier breeding areas of the Western Cape coast to the Northern Cape, as well as in the newly discovered summer range in Lesotho, meant that harriers may be affected at both ends of their migratory cycle. They said that this was an unknown threat, but that the species was high on the collision-sensitivity list of the Birds and Wind Energy Specialist Group. 'It is important to keep in mind that without mitigation, impacts could be ongoing for the 20-year lifespan of a wind farm, and we have plans to increase the number of turbines in SA (and therefore risk to birds) significantly over the next 10 years,' Ralston-Paton said. Von Der Heyden and Logan said that they recognised that the bird species most at risk of turbine collisions were typically long-lived, slow to reproduce and wide-ranging. This meant that even a small number of fatalities could have significant population-level impacts, as mentioned by BLSA. To address this, they apply a multi-layered mitigation approach that includes meticulous turbine micro-siting, advanced bird tracking technologies and adaptive shutdown-on-demand protocols that respond in real time to site-specific and seasonal conditions. 'These efforts are complemented by transparent data sharing and the appointment of independent avifaunal specialists to provide ongoing oversight,' Von Der Heyden and Logan said. As for what Red Rocket learnt from this deployment, Von Der Heyden and Logan said they found that the automation system reduced downtime while improving protection. 'Manual spotters often shut down turbines for up to a 10-minute block. The camera-based, per turbine approach at Brandvalley and Rietkloof should see a reduction in unnecessary stops while still mitigating potential bird collisions, translating into both conservation and production gains,' they said. They were calibrating the system to minimise downtime, and since it was a first in South Africa, Red Rocket said they would monitor the system soon to better understand the reduction of downtime for turbines. DM
