ESI-AFRICA.COM - 2009

Excellence Awards 2009

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:20:17 +0200

:nodate:The ESI Africa Excellence Awards were established in 2000, when Spintelligent recognised the need to introduce an award recognising service (and product) excellence in the electricity supply industry.

Each year a survey is conducted among municipalities and large industrial energy users around South Africa. The survey group consists predominantly of the municipal market in South Africa (although in 2002, the scope was extended to include large industrial users of electricity and Eskom regional offices). They are contacted by an independent researcher, and asked a series of questions to elicit their vote on the ‘best’ company in each of the five categories pertaining to the industry. The results are collated and reviewed by the company auditor and the Awards committee.

An argument for the introduction of IPPs in the South African electricity industry

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:15:20 +0200

By Marc Goldstein, Frost & Sullivan Energy Analyst

BACKGROUND
Due to socio-economic pressures, state-owned electricity companies typically set prices that are too low to finance new investment. This creates additional problems when private investment is sought. This is exactly the position in which Eskom and South Africa find themselves in 2009. Developing countries often find it hard to finance investment from either internal funds or borrowing from the state, and thus are under increasing pressure to turn to the private sector. This is usually either via privatisation or by long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Independent Power Producers (IPPs). In both cases a typical problem is that electricity prices are below the cost that would be adequate to compensate new investment. If investment is required, privatisation and the formation of a competitive wholesale market will be unsuccessful unless prices rise to the right level. The low tariffs in South Africa explain the failure of government policy to attract IPPs into the market. This is despite stating that IPP’s would be responsible for 30% of power generation after 1998.

Sugar waste provides rich source of renewable energy

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:13:20 +0200

As natural fossil fuel resources are rapidly depleting and energy costs ever increasing, it is critical for South Africa to address the use of biofuels to supplement the energy sources currently being used.

A golden opportunity exists for South
Africa to use the residual cane
waste, bagasse.

It would be wise for South Africa to look to global countries with similar climates and resources in order to tap into viable solutions. Brazil is considered a pioneer in ethanol production and launched its ethanol programme in the mid-70s when its fuel consumption depended on foreign oil.

Rural electrification: the integrated management approach

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:07:08 +0200

By Eric Maxwell, Marketing Manager, Manitoba Hydro International

The underlying premise of Rural Electrification (RE) is based upon a common understanding that the extension of electricity grids into rural locations is required, in order to stimulate economic growth and to improve general living conditions within developing nations. It is commonly accepted that some form of subsidy or assistance is also required in order to make these extensions economically feasible. In recent years, donors have often responded by creating programmes or funding vehicles which have enabled numerous electrification projects around the world.

AMI and energy saving in South Africa

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:00:20 +0200

By Edison M Makwarela (Pr Tech Eng), Senior Consultant, Industry Association Resource Centre

BACKGROUND
Recent generating capacity constraints in South Africa is undoubtedly fast ushering in a new way of energy metering in the country in an effort to save energy and manage consumer demand. Although the focus is presently more on saving electrical energy, the shortage of electrical energy could lead to either a shortage or increase in the price of alternative energy sources available in the country. It is for this reason that utilities are now focusing on consumer energy saving initiatives in addition to traditional metering. The focus is also on transparent metering, the reduction of non-technical losses and improved customer service. This has led to the advent of a new breed of advanced meters termed “smart meters” that give rise to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI).

Iskraemeco solutions and the smart grid vision

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:53:29 +0200

Electrical energy consumers are demanding better customer service, better power quality, higher energy measurement accuracy and more timely data. Utilities all over the world are being forced to find solutions to getting more information on the population’s power consumption.

By Ahmed Helmy Omar, ISKRAEMECO

The Automatic Meter Reading system (AMR) was one of the ways in which utilities were go-getting to achieve these goals. However, the rising needs towards dozens of services and benefits everyday drive utilities to utilise new approaches introduced by the metering industry. Advanced metering management (AMM) and Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) are used simultaneously to fulfill these ongoing requirements, e.g. outage management, prepayment metering, load forecasting, demand response, load control, tamper detection, power quality monitoring, asset management, interface with water and gas meters and many other features that make metering systems key players towards the smart grid era.

Telemanagement solution for public lighting networks

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:50:32 +0200

In most cities in South Africa, as well as around the world, the maintenance of Public Lighting systems is an ongoing irritation and frustration to the operators. Many problems plague the management process, including lights using electricity at times when they are not needed; lights malfunctioning, but nobody reports their failure to the authorities; and lighting infrastructure being vandalised. Lighting systems are expensive to operate and maintain, which results in a financial headache!

Conceptual prepayment remote metering for Eskom to minimise revenue losses

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:43:18 +0200

By Edison Makwarela, NHD (Elec. Eng); B.Tech (Power Eng); MDP (UP); MBA (UP) Discipline Specialist – Prepayment, Eskom Distribution Technology

This article proposes and discusses the ideal remote metering in the prepayment environment as a suggested technical solution to minimise revenue losses for Eskom in view of the fact that Eskom has already installed more than 2.7 million prepaid meters for domestic customers. The stated customer base makes it difficult for Eskom to consider new advanced technologies such as intelligent metering systems as this would mean replacing the already installed meters. Having said the above, it becomes clear that whatever form of remote metering one thinks about, it has to work with the current meters as most electricity utilities in South Africa would be reluctant to remove meters currently installed. There are several problems that could be experienced when going the remote metering route such as customer acceptance, cost associated with the implementation of remote metering, staffing the remote metering technology and the burning issue of return on investment (ROI) considering the current average consumption of electricity per customer per month.

The lifespan of conductor systems

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:48:21 +0200

By A Luff, Powermite

Some time ago, a 3-phase conductor system was required to feed and energise a newly designed underground locomotive. The system had to fulfill the criteria of safety at low heights, bending into curves – horizontally as well as vertically, to be small and compact in design with easy installation features.

These requirements were investigated with the locomotive designed which found that our 811 system would be most suited for a loco design up to 10 ton.

Powering the Confederations Cup - Eskom's proven preparedness

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:46:12 +0200

The experiences gained with ensuring that electricity flowed smoothly to all venues for the recent Fifa Confederations Cup on match days, will ultimately benefit the logistics surrounding the 2010 Fifa World Cup, says Eskom.

SADC unites to ensure uninterrupted supply of power to 2010 World Cup in South Africa

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:34:36 +0200

By Sanjay Bhana, Eskom

The SADC countries making up the South African Power Pool (SAPP) are partners in ensuring the success of the first Soccer World Cup to be held on the African continent – a partnership that has been sealed in a joint pledge committing them all to take wide-ranging steps regarding security of power supply in their countries and across their borders.

Meeting challenges in 2010 and beyond

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:26:54 +0200

By Erica Johnson, Chief Officer: Customer Network Business

We are proud to announce that Eskom has confirmed its commitment to the African power sector, and to improving communication to the electricity supply industry, by endorsing Africa’s leading power journal, ESI Africa. This media partnership with the South African utility will enable Eskom to keep the industry updated on Eskom employees, new developments, tenders, objectives and messages. ESI Africa’s intention is to support Eskom with the future development of the South African Electricity sector. In this edition, Erica Johnson, Chief Officer: Customer Network Business at Eskom provides an overview of Eskom’s challenges and mandates and current operational goals.

Localisation of components for the transformer manufacturing industry

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:22:48 +0200

As part of a campaign involving the private sector and government utilities and municipalities to generate additional local content in the transformer manufacturing industry, Savcio Holdings (Pty) Ltd has been investing significant capacity in converting and processing equipment over the last few years. This has included and is not limited to conversion and customisation of transformer board and paper, transformer conductor manufacture, transformer oil regeneration and analysis and a myriad of additional components and services. In a new significant development for the transformer manufacturing industry, Transwire, a division of Savcio Holdings, has signed a co-operation agreement with China’s Baoding Tianwei Electric Wire Company (BTEW).

Distribution transformers

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:16:36 +0200

By Ian W. Robertson, Managing Director of Tanelec Limited (Tanzania)

THE IMPORTANCE OF MATERIALS
There are many questions asked by customers about distribution transformers. The top transformer producers in the world spend vast amounts of funds on R&D, some as much as 5% of revenues. These levels of R&D mean that, despite transformer technology being extremely mature, there is a gradual improvement in technology and design expertise. The main progress in recent years comes from improvements in the materials used in the manufacture of transformers.

Generator power transformers order for Cape Town's Steenbras Power Station

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:05:16 +0200

By Ronnie Russell, ACTOM Power Transformers

Upper Steenbras dam.

A leading power transformer manufacturer was recently awarded a R40 million contract to produce four customised 60 MVA 12/132 kV units that are to replace old transformers at Cape Town’s 180 MW Steenbras pumpedstorage hydroelectric power station.