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Synchronicity, solar energy and stumbling blocks?
by Mike Rycroft, editor
 Rooftop solar PV systems have been excluded from both the REFIT (REBID) and IRP plans. There has been a recent trend worldwide, which is manifesting itself locally as well, to install these systems for own generation, and funding for these projects is being made available locally from various sources under the guise of other initiatives... ( more) |
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SAIEE house officially opened
The SAIEE officially opened its new head office on 6 October 2011. After nearly four years of deliberation, the decision was made to build the R12-million facility at Observatory, Johannesburg. The SAIEE facility forms part of the South African Advancement of Science and Technology Agency (SAASTA) site... ( more) |
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The Kelvin Awards at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists
by Dr. Stafford Smithies, VSA Consulting
The Eskom Expo for Young Scientists had over 10 000 participants this year. A total of 532 projects were selected to be presented in October 2011 at the national finals. The Kelvin Awards at the Eskom Expo finals were introduced in 2010 for excellent projects exhibited by our young scientists... ( more) |
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The Jacob Marley column: The electricity price - quake before the eruption
I'm told by people in the know that there are many signs that a volcanic eruption is about to happen. There are earth tremors well in advance and there become increasingly more violent tremblers, leading up to an earthquake or two. Even animals become restless and some flee the area... ( more) |
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Our biggest crisis - energy, water, climate change?
by Dr. Chris Herold, Umfula Wempilo Consulting
Energy holds the unenviable distinction of linking the word crisis to the delivery of essential services in the mind of the South African public. Damaging as it was (and may still be), it is transitory. Yet, before we are even out of the first crisis, the energy sector is now on the brink of pitching us all into a much more serious second crisis... ( more) |
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Calcium carbide plant plans co-gen using flare gas
by Mike Rycroft, editor
The recent increase in electricity tariffs is certain to effect margins for energy intensive companies. South African Calcium carbide (SACC) have opted to develop a co-generation facility using flare gas from the production process to reduce the impact of higher tariffs and increase production capability... ( more) |
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Enabling a virtual power station
Information from UtilLabs
SA is currently facing a generation constraint. This is a global phenomenon and offers utilities two options: increase generation or shape the load curve. Shaping of the load curve by load curtailment is dispatchable in the same manner as generated capacity in a virtual power station (VPS)... ( more) |
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Reconductoring using live line working
by Mike Rycroft, editor
Live-line working entails contact by linemen with energised conductors. Various techniques have been used, including the use of helicopters, aerial platforms, ladders and other methods. Development of a robotic arm which can hold conductors while work is being done has considerably simplified the process and improved safety... (more) |
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High voltage disconnect switches: critical to smart grid deployment
by Patrick Lalongé and William Morse, EHT International
With the massive investments globally in smart grid architecture projects, we are witnessing new strategies in the high voltage industry. This article discusses the reasons why many utilities are not integrating or simply ignoring HV disconnect switches in their smart grid monitoring strategies cycle... ( more) |
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Upgrading of existing transmission lines from HVAC to HVDC
by Pat Naidoo, Pat Naidoo Consulting
In general, HVAC transmission lines have an inherent design inefficiency whereby the conductor current carrying capability remains largely unused. When the same transmission line is converted to carry direct current, the full conductor current carrying capability can be fully employed... (more) |
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Analysing moisture in paper and pressboard of power transformers
Information from Alectrix
One of the most important aging indicators of transformers is the water content in the solid part of the insulation (paper, pressboard). Accurate diagnostic tools for determining the health of transformers is critical. The Omicron Dirana is a unique and efficient device which determines the water content in the solid insulation... (more) |
Energy efficient electric motors: some caveats to their use
by L R Middelberg, Aurecon
The injudicious and automatic replacement of standard motors with IE2 and IE3 motors can have unintentional side effects. If one does not make allowances for these in the system design, an improvement in energy efficiency on the motor alone may well result in an actual increase in the overall system energy consumption... ( more) |
Namibia's first solar town
By David Jarret, NamPower
Tsumkwe, with some 700 residents, is situated in a rural off-grid area, with the nearest power line 200 km away. The town depended solely on a 314 kVA diesel generator. Now, the town runs mostly on green energy through a state-of-the-art 200 kW hybrid solar-diesel generator energy project, one of the largest in Africa... ( more) |
Implementing an O&M strategy to maximise turbine uptime
by Mark Evans, Obelisk Energy
Failure can be very costly for the operator. So how can you put fail-safe O&M procedures in place to minimise the risks of things going wrong and what are the latest trends in proactive maintenance for onshore and offshore wind farms... ( more) |
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Hybrid solar system makes rooftop hydrogen
Information from Duke University
A Duke University engineer proposes a hybrid option which uses sunlight to heat a combination of water and methanol in a maze of glass tubes on a rooftop. After two catalytic reactions, the system produces hydrogen more efficiently than current technology without significant impurities... ( more) |
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EE Publishers (Pty) Ltd.
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