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Skills challenge lies at basic education level
by Andries Tshabalala, SAIEE president
 For the first time in more than a century, the SAIEE's membership demographics are becoming representative of our wider society, but the need for improved secondary education in South Africa remains one of the biggest threats to electrical engineering... ( more) |
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Debate presenters announced: "Fracking in the Karoo - for and against..."
by Chris Yelland, managing director, EE Publishers
 Presenters at public debate announced - Chairman: Dr. Rod Crompton, NERSA; For fracking: Prof. Philip Lloyd; Ivo Vegter;
Against fracking: Dr. Anthony Turton; Dr. Chris Hartnady.
Join the debate, register here!... ( more) |
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Eskom, BHP Billiton and the secret electricity pricing deals...
by Chris Yelland, managing director, EE Publishers
 But the strangest thing about all this is that despite Eskom and BHP Billiton "playing possum" and hiding for years behind claimed confidentiality / non-disclosure requirements in the commodity-linked pricing agreements, there may in fact be no such confidentiality clauses in the contracts after all... ( more) |
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Eskom sets out plans to meet winter supply challenges
Eskom has detailed its plan to meet electricity supply challenges in the coming winter months, when higher demand will increase the load on a tight power system. Brian Dames and his senior management team provided the information at Eskom's second quarterly briefing on the state of the power system... ( more) |
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The Jacob Marley column: Plan B
If there had been a plan B, one could perhaps fathom why EDI Holdings was dismantled. Maybe plan B was better and needed some elbow room. Maybe plan B would have been cheaper, faster and tasted better. Nobody gives any answers, and it seems that we will wait in vain for one. I doubt if even the sphinx knows... ( more) |
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Combined heat and power - two for one
by Eric Johnson, Siemens
Most of the leading countries have a traditional commitment to CHP. Indeed, the idea of combining heat and power generation is as old as the origins of the electricity industry.CHP's appeal is due to efficiency. Rather than just converting incoming energy to electricity, CHP makes use of the heat as well... ( more) |
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Japan: Coming to terms with the power crisis
by Martin Daniel, Platts Power in Asia
In such a fast-moving situation aspects of the story can change very quickly, as evidenced by the occurrence of another offshore north eastern earthquake on 7 April - again powerful at 7,4 magnitude. But the broader story is already clear enough... (more) |
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Seismic performance of power transformers
by Robert Platek and Bogusz Lewa Ndowski, ABB
Earthquakes have the potential to wreak great havoc, including loss of human life, and cause extensive damage to infrastructure. Making power products earthquake-proof is no easy task... (more) |
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An innovative method for finding leaks in oil filled high voltage cables
by R H Goodwin, HV Test
Oil filled cables still form a major part of the high voltage (> 33 kV) cable network in many countries. These cables are extremely reliable until they are damaged and start leaking... (more)
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A revolution in current transformer testing
Information from Alectrix
This article describes a new and innovative solution to test current transformers at all lifecycle stages by using a revolutionary testing method called "the modelling concept"... ( more) |
Shunt capacitor banks increase capacity of distribution networks
by Noble Muromba and Dale Pudney, High Voltage Technology
Distribution networks form the bulk of the electricity supply industry infrastructure, but don't get the attention enjoyed by the transmission networks or generation infrastructure... ( more) |
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Testing standards for arc rated garments: Part 3 Information from JAS Consulting
Electrical arc flash safety is generally not part of the original design, but rather a retrofit. This results in a reversal of the safety steps and PPE becomes the first item on the electrical arc flash safety program... ( more) |
Results of implementing an energy management strategy at a hotel
by A W Potgieter, Energy Resource Optimizers
An energy management strategy was designed and implemented at one hotel that is part of a large group. The approach taken was to provide a sustainable energy management strategy... ( more) |
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Green UPSs: The role of the battery
by Jack Ward, Powermode
The choice of batteries for UPS or standby power systems can spell the difference between functioning dependably or otherwise. It could also mean the difference between an ecology-conscious decision and one that ignores the values of "green" initiatives... (more)
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Keep the (electrical) noise down!
Information from Megger
Electrical noise is the enemy of accurate measurement, and it is often an acute problem in high-voltage insulation testing. But what exactly is electrical noise, what are its effects and what can be done about it?... (more) |
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Renewables need nanotechnology
by Mark Botha, features editor
To generate 10% of the world energy requirement by 2020 by means of photovoltaic technology, would require a daily installation of 15 sq km of PV panels. The industry needs innovations in the field of nanotechnology to improve production time and cost...(more)
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Solar generation control with time-synchronised phasors
by Greg Zweigle et al, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
PV-based distributed generation poses challenges to grid reliability and power quality. One critical challenge is islanding control. Research is underway to devise best practice methods for anti-islanding for all power mismatch conditions... (more) |
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Solar powered absorption cooling systems for Southern Africa
by Tatenda J Bvumbe, F L Inambao, University of KwaZulu-Natal
This project was concerned with establishing the technical and economic effectiveness of solar powered absorption cooling systems for local climatic conditions.a complete system utilising solar energy without an auxilliary boiler was designed and optimised... (more) |
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