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The new year takes off with speed - but where are we going?
by Mike Rycroft, editor
 Eskom kicked off the year on a high note with warnings about imminent power cuts for the next few months. A peek into their crystal ball (a.k.a the supply status/adequacy report) shows a current risk indication in the mellow yellow zone - which is slight. As we move further into the year, the colour gets progressively worse until we reach a glowing deep red in April... ( more)
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Power system constraints: Recommended preparation
Recent articles published in the AMEU e-Bulletin and other media highlight the national power system constraints expected over the next few years, as well as a few of the recommended mitigation strategies to prevent or reduce the widespread disruption experienced during the 2008 electricity generation crisis... ( more) |
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The Jacob Marley column: A well rounded science
At the start of every new school year comes the great hand-wringing about the dismal failure of the school system to produce feedstock for technical fields of study. The horrible schools did very poorly, the good ones passably, and the excellent ones (most of which aren't run by government, thank goodness) did brilliantly... ( more) |
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The China effect - eroding SA's economy, increasing unemployment and delivering inferior products
We've all heard the saying "local is lekker" and seen campaigns by local manufacturers urging us to support SA brands. However, the China effect is being felt the world over, our own country included, as businesses and retailers increasingly look towards the Far East to source products rather than supporting local manufacturers... ( more) |
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Rooftop solar PV, an awakening giant
by Mike Rycroft, EE Publishers; A Wagner and B Sabbione, Bosch Solar
Small to medium sized rooftop solar PV systems are being installed extensively in other countries where legislation is in place to support this technology. There is a groundswell of support in SA for rooftop PV in renewable energy roll-out, and in spite of the lack of legislation, private installation of grid tied rooftop PV systems is growing... ( more) |
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Coal stock pile simulation by Dr. Vincent Micali and Dr. Schalk Heunis, Eskom
To safeguard the delivery of energy supply from coal fired power stations a stockpile (SP) of coal is required at the station measured in tonnage (SPT) or in days (SPD). The total stock reflects the stock of coal (in tonnes) at hand, plus the replenishment... ( more) |
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World energy outlook: executive summary
Information from International Energy Agency
There are few signs that the urgently needed change in direction in global energy trends is underway. Although the recovery in the world economy since 2009 has been uneven, and future economic prospects uncertain, global primary energy demand rebounded by a remarkable 5% in 2010, pushing CO2 emissions to a new high... ( more) |
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Earth current considerations for earth mat design in HV substations
by A Ware and J Mostert, Hatch Africa, and J van der Merwe, EON Consulting
The design of substation earth grids is involved with limiting grid potential rise from earth fault currents that flow to earth through an earth grid impedance. This paper illustrates that it is necessary to get a clear understanding of the specific substation configuration in order to design a safe and economical earth grid... (more)
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A grid code for Rwanda
by Paul Tuson, Jarrad Wright, Parsons Brinckerhoff Africa; Maree Roos, ACE Energy; Graeme Chown, PPA Energy
Parsons Brinckerhoff Africa, ACE Energy and PPA Energy were contracted by the ministry of infrastructure, Rwanda, to formulate a national electricity grid code. Once promulgated, the custodians will be the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agencym whose primary responsibility will be to enforce the provisions of the grid code... ( more) |
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Analysis of a 405 km transmission line with series compensation
by Dr. Rupert Gouws, North-West University
This paper presents a case study and energy efficiency analysis of the 405 km, 420 kV transmission line between Insukamini substation, Bulawayo, and Matimba power station in SA. Three scenarios were evaluated and an analysis made on the energy efficiency of the load by means of a simulation model... (more)
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Can arc fault protection be provided when maintaining LV switchgear?
by Kelvin Wong and David Stonebridge, ABB
Arc-flash incidents are a major concern to maintenance managers. Statistics show that 65% of arc-flash incidents occur when undergoing maintenance or fault finding, so this naturally leads us to the exploration of methods to reduce likelihood of an arcflash incident during maintenance, i.e, arc fault protection... ( more) |
Rechargeable batteries - the evolution and beyond
by Dr. Paul Lefley, Ayodele Soge; University of Leicester, and Jonathan Starkey, Converteam
Cutting down carbon emissions has become a growing concern for policy makers, car manufacturers, and building designers in our present world. Consequently, batteries as energy storage devices have taken the centre stage in the search for alternative sources of energy and development of low-cost hybrid electric vehicles... ( more) |
Alternative motor starting solution
by Durgesh (Kim) Kamat, Siemens
The problem often faced by engineers when designing a starting solution for a series of large inline motors, is the voltage drop, which can have a detrimental effect on other vital equipment. This article examines an alternative solution to starting large inline motors to minimise starting current and reduce associated voltage drop... ( more) |
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Opportunities to utilise concentrating solar thermal systems: Part 2
by A C Brent, Stellenbosch University, and M W Pretorius, University of Pretoria
A solar energy technology roadmap (SETRM) has been developed for SA which lists a number of technological systems that have clearly been demonstrated or commercialised, and where a local industry could be stimulated with associate socio-economic growth... ( more) |
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EE Publishers (Pty) Ltd.
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