Biofuels are struggling to make a comeback in the world of new-age energy production, as there are many pros and cons to weigh up

Much of our modern energy-intensive lifestyle was kick-started by the invention of the internal combustion engine, in which biofuel – in the form of alcohol and ethanol – played a central role. As the old wisdom would have it: there is nothing new under the sun.

Read more: Food for thought

The demand for energy is increasing. We need to look at alternative energy options before it is too late

Reducing carbon emissions has become an international imperative. The critical issue for developing nations, however, is managing the demands of economic growth while remaining faithful to these agreements regarding climate change.

Read more: What’s the alternative?

On Tuesday 7 October a fleet of odd-looking vehicles rolled into Pretoria after an epic two-week, 4 175km round-trip across South Africa’s heartland and back along its coastline. This was the end of the inaugural South African Solar Challenge, the longest and toughest solar-powered race in the world, and the first sanctioned by the Federation International de l'Automobile (International Automobile Federation, or FIA).

Read more: World's longest solar race in SA

Local petroleum giant Sasol has made its debut on the Dow Jones sustainability world index, one of 33 such companies that are recognised as new global corporate sustainability leaders. The 2008 list was announced in September and in spite of 25 deletions, the number of companies listed grew from 312 to 320.

Read more: Sasol on Dow sustainability index

A home in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is the subject of a pilot project that could lead to South African households producing their own electricity – and selling the surplus to national electricity provider Eskom.

Read more: A power plant in your home

Delegates at the first all-African carbon forum in Dakar, Senegal, agreed the continent's entrepreneurs need cash to break into the expanding international carbon emissions trading market.

Read more: Africa's carbon-trading potential