Renewable energy and the goldrush mentality
by Mike Rycroft, editor
 The exploitation of renewable energy from solar and wind has been likened to the new gold rush. SA has probably the biggest unexploited goldfield in the form of solar energy in the world, and there is a rush to benefit from this new bonanza... ( more) |
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On fracking in the Karoo, open forums and the power of public opinion
by Mark Botha and Chris Yelland, EE Publishers
Shale gas extraction has the potential, some say, to change the face of the country's power industry and improve the lives of millions of South Africans. Public opinion, however, is a powerful force well-known to have hampered the nuclear industry in the past... ( more) |
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New rebate on heat pumps
Information from Eskom
The programme, which focuses on residential water heating, aims to facilitate the installation of at least 65 000 systems by March 2013 at a cost of R250-million, saving an estimated 54 MW of capacity...( more) |
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The Jacob Marley column: Sun and land
Photo-voltaic solar power in particular, Messrs Frost &Sullivan trumpeted, was clearly the winner in the revised edition of IRP2010, which foresees no less than 8400 MW of PV capacity by 2030, equivalent to 300 MW per year... ( more) |
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The potential for algal based carbon capture and storage
by Mike Blenkinsop, NET Energy
On the one hand existing generating capacity needs to be replaced and new plant built to maintain and grow the economy, while on the other hand, a "green" economy is significantly more expensive for all concerned, especially the poor... ( more) |
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Generating electricity from small amounts of process gas
Information from DePrag Schulz, Germany
An energy recovery research project, is soon to start production. In many industrial processes, process gas escapes unused into the atmosphere. The basic idea is to tap these gases for the further generation of energy... (more) |
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Here comes the sun
Information from Siemens
By 2030, researchers expect to build a fusion reactor demonstration plant that produces more energy than it consumes. If successful, fusion power will provide a nearly inexhaustible and CO2-free source of energy... (more) |
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City Power introduces condition monitoring
Information from City Power
City Power and Singapore Power Global Solutions have entered into a strategic partnership that is now bearing fruit. Condition monitoring is one of the key contributing factors for them becoming one of the most reliable utilities the world... (more)
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EDI Holdings electricity distribution benchmarking results
Information from EDI Holdings
EDI Holdings has been participating since inception in a well recognised international benchmarking process. Over the past six years extensive discussions took place with amongst others the DoE, NERSA, the AMEU, Eskom, the metro's and a number of other municipalities... ( more) |
Dispelling myths associated with power factor correction capacitors
by Dale Pudney, High Voltage Technology
Now that Eskom intends to increase the penalty for having a low power factor, the economics of installing power factor correction (PFC) equipment are improving. For the most economic MV PFC, a number of incorrectly held beliefs need to be dispelled... ( more) |
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Phasor-based wide area monitoring in the South African power system by D H Wilson, R A Folkes, Psymetrix, UK; A Edwards B Berry Eskom; N Mbuli, Tshwane University of Technology; Brian van Rensburg, Actom
This paper outlines the progress in South Africa on using synchrophasor-based wide area monitoring systems (WAMS) as a means of improving system security and increasing the use of the transmission network... ( 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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Mapping tool for harmonic resonances across large ring main network
by Thuso Makanye and Gary Atkinson-Hope, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa,
Tools available to analyse harmonic resonance are very limited, and cannot tell which network components cause the resonance and where to mitigate the problem. This research investigates mapping as a visualisation tool for evaluating harmonic resonances... (more) |
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Design and development of a battery cell voltage monitoring system
by Nick Prinsloo and Dr. Ian D de Vries, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
The purpose of this project was to investigate various methods that would allow accurate measurement of individual cell voltages that are all connected in series to make up a battery pack. Methods to do this task, were all evaluated... (more) |
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Earth ground testing for mine sites
Information from Comtest
All mine sites have grounded electrical systems. To ensure a reliable connection to earth, electrical codes, engineering standards, and local standards often specify a minimum resistance for the ground electrodes... (more) |
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Solar makes cents - the business case for solar water heating
by Irvan Damon, SESSA SWH
Switching to solar in existing developments could save as much as 50% on the average household's monthly electricity bill by reducing the amount of electricity used by a geyser by as much as 70%... (more)
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Performance of an energy efficient building with integrated photovoltaics
by Adson L Meyer, Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare
A 3,8 kW rooftop photovoltaic generator has been installed on an energy efficient house built at the University of Fort Hare, Alice campus, South Africa. The system, located on the north facing roof, started generating electrical power in February 2009... (more) |
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Towards better quality biodiesel: SANS 833 published
Information from SABS
The government's current strategy envisions 2% of national petrol and diesel usage coming from biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel by 2013. There is considerable scope for producing biodiesel from small producers; if the quality of biodiesel can be assured... (more) |
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Overload and short circuit protection of photo-voltaic panels
by Dr. Michael Grant, CBI-electric: low voltage
The selection of protection components in photovoltaic installations is not trivial. There are both DC and AC circuits with very difference characteristics. If traditional AC network design rules are employed for this DC network the resulting protection will be ineffective... (more) |
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Energy efficient hotel solutions
Information from Schneider
Growing acceptance of the need for energy efficiency to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs has led to hotels and resorts focusing their attention on ensuring that their guests not only enjoy superior facilities and service, but also a "green" experience... (more) |
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