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Power plant safety and security
by Mike Rycroft, editor
 Events in Japan at the Fukushima nuclear plant and the resulting crisis have focused attention again on the safety of power plant under conditions of natural disaster. The problem on most people's minds is the potential leakage of radioactive material from the damaged plant, and the possibility of a core meltdown... ( more) |
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Former EDI Holdings CEO Phindile Nzimande appointed CEO of NERSA
by Chris Yelland, managing director, EE Publishers
 Phindile Nzimande, former CEO of EDI Holdings (Pty) Ltd, has been appointed CEO of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) with effect from 1 May 2011. This follows a decision by the cabinet announced in December 2010 to disband EDI Holdings by 1 April 2011... ( more) |
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The carbon tax - just another tax?
by Mike Rycroft, editor
The Treasury has announced it's proposal to introduce a "carbon tax". But the nature of the power generation industry in South Africa is such that neither financial incentives or penalties can have any effect on the utility and how it generates power, and implementing the proposal will result in just another tax... ( more) |
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IRP 2010 - 2030: Massive renewable and nuclear build ahead - but coal is here to stay
by Chris Yelland, managing director, EE Publishers
 At last, the cabinet has approved and published the policy adjusted national Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity, IRP 2010 - 2030. Let's hope there will not be further delays, and a measure of certainty will prevail so that the electricity sector can get down to work. But what is IRP 2010 and what exactly does it say?.. ( more) |
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Deputy president Motlanthe launches South Africa's biggest energy saving movement
Information from Eskom
South Africans will be mobilised through the biggest energy saving movement ever seen in this country, 49M, launched by Eskom, the government, and business partners... ( more) |
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The Jacob Marley column: Substation maintenance
My attention was drawn the other day to a picture in this amazing medium purporting to proclaim the procedure in case of a power failure, posted on the wall of a substation building, which I thought was worth a comment or two... (more)
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Tar-free wood gas producer systems for electricity generation
Information from Carbo Consult
The process of wood and biomass gasification to produce fuel for power generation has been in use for many years. This article describes a system which produces tar-free gas without reduction in calorific value... ( more) |
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Africa's changing energy landscape: challenges, needs and priorities
by Mark Botha, features editor
Prof. A.S. Sambo, vice-chairperson for Africa of the World Energy Council and director-general of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, noted that Africa's energy potential remained largely underexploited... (more) |
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Nuclear power lies in rare earths
by Prof. Eben Mulder, North-West University
Thorium is found together with the rare earths. It has the potential to trigger a nuclear renaissance as the mineral offers the opportunity to manage concerns surrounding waste management and proliferation in the provision of nuclear energy... (more) |
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Little known facts about insulation power factor testing
Information from Megger
Utilities and industry must focus on preventive and predictive maintenance to ensure power system integrity and stability. Insulation power factor testing can diagnose and estimate the condition of insulation as it ages... (more) |
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Releasing the potential of the smart grid
Information from Oracle
Smart grid and smart meter technology enable electric utilities to reduce carbon emissions. Smart grids allow utilities to manage their distribution grids more efficiently, to reduce power generation, create fewer emissions and reduce outages... (more)
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Compact ring main unit
Information from Ormazabal
A new compact ring main unit, which consists of two feeder functions and one vacuum circuit breaker, incorporates the latest technological development in terms of safety aspects, user friendliness and reliability... ( more) |
Aging oils in aging transformers
Information from Nynas
There is precious little readily available basic information on how insulating materials in transformers behave over longer periods of time. In a recent study Nynas researchers have looked at the properties of aging mineral insulating oils in service... ( more) |
Summary of open session Cigré SG A2: power transformers
by N S Mtetwa, Cigré SC A2 member
This is a summary of the discussion which took place during the 2010 open session of the Cigré Study Group A2: power transformers... ( more) |
Substation automation with IEEE 1588v2 precise timekeeping
by Justin Wu and Bruce Chen,Moxa
Power distribution networks need accurate timekeeping and network synchronisation to coordinate the activities of widely distributed equipment and regulate power transmission... ( more) |
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Stabilising differential protection for an arc transformer
by A Perera and P Keller, Eskom System Operations and Planning
Differential protection on transformers supplying arc furnaces is susceptible to maloperation. The large DC offset in the inrush current results in saturation of the supply transformer and its current transformers... (more)
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The growing importance of medium voltage drives
by Johan van Niekerk, Zest Electric Motors
There is a greater demand for MV variable speed drives (3,3 kV to 6,6 kV). Slip ring motors have increased in price disproportionately over the last few years, while MV variable speed drives have become more and more economical... (more)
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Mini-grids for rural electrification
Information from Alliance for Rural Electrification
Grid extension is often highly costly and not feasible in isolated rural areas, or is unlikely to be accomplished within the medium term in many areas. In such situations, electricity mini-grids can power household use and local businesses... (more)
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Airborne wind power generation
by Matt Bennett, Windlift
Providing portable renewable energy to remote villages and other areas that do not have access to the power grid is a huge challenge. This article describes a novel new approach... (more) |
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Solar water heating and inclining block tariffs
Information from Eskom
Households that invest in solar water heating can take advantage of the subsidy of up to 40% which Eskom is offering on such equipment, and can further reduce their exposure to higher energy costs through the preferential rate being offered... (more) |
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