Is EDI infrastructure going to receive the attention it deserves?
by Dr. Willie de Beer, SANEDI
 During the period 25 to 27 July 2012, the joint public hearings between the parliamentary committee (PC) on energy and the parliamentary committee on cooperative governance and traditional affairs (COGTA), regarding the condition of the existing infrastructure in the electricity distribution industry (EDI) and the way forward for the sector took place in Cape Town... ( more)
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World carbon emissions and the carbon tax
World emissions and climate change are highly emotive and political issues. Any attempt to find out the real facts generally just leads one deeper into a morass of examples of the effects of global warming with an equal number of disputing counter claims... ( more) |
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Net metering: A growing and worrisome trend
by Dr. Perry Sioshansi, EEnergy Informer
The rapid growth of solar rooftop PVs has significant unintended consequences. Policymakers and regulators in many parts of the world are supportive of any and all renewable energy resources, be it a giant multi MW concentrating solar power (CSP) plant, or a 10 kW solar PV system on someone's roof, and everything in between... ( more) |
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The Jacob Marley column: The bleating of the lambs
Sir: Reflecting the other day during a blackout brought me to ponder, mindful of my woeful ignorance of pastoral practices, the topical question of whether there were similarities between lambs and participants in the electricity industry... ( more) |
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Energize InBox
Our winning letter to the editor
Max Clarke comments on an article by Chris Yelland on Eskom's annual results... (more) |
Is the world facing a carbon bubble?
by Robbie Louw, Promethium
Concern has been raised over the exposure of financial markets to high carbon investments that could pose systemic risk. The focus is on the fossil fuel reserves held by publically listed companies and the way these assets are valued and assessed as assets... ( more)
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Dynamic governor model development for grid code compliance
by Graeme Chown et al, Eskom
This paper describes the process followed for the development of governor models for four Eskom coal fired power stations. A seven step process was developed to ensure models were developed in the quickest, safest and most accurate manner. This paper describes the process steps... ( more)
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Ammonia made by renewable energy - Part 3
by CM Meyer
"Today, no trace of the electrolysis building remains at Vemork. Visitors find it hard to believe a towering eight story glass-steel-and concrete building, plus a score of other houses and structures, once hugged the sloping, narrow ledge on the south side of the Vestfjord valley"... ( more) |
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Smart cleaning of boilers leads to clean energy
Information from Clyde Bergemann
Changing coal qualities are a reality in the South African Power industry. In addition a typical increase in load factors is also a reality. The direct result for power producers of the change (typically a drop) in coal quality and operating parameters is increased slagging and fouling of the boiler heat transfer surfaces, leading to lower heat transfer efficiency... ( more) |
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Thermography reveals coal combustion characteristics
Information from OEN Enterprises
It has long been known that coal from South African mines has different characteristics from that mined in the northern hemisphere and other parts of the world. Boilers in use in this country were designed for northern hemisphere coal, and the use of locally mined coals has effects on their performance which to date have only been the subject of surmise... (more)
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Rural electrification using overhead HVDC transmission lines
by Prof. Nelson Ijumba and Leon Chetty, University of KwaZulu-Natal
One of mankind's greatest modern challenges is poverty alleviation. The provision of electricity can greatly assist in this regard. The tapping of small amounts of power from an HVDC transmission line represents a solution to this problem especially in rural areas. This paper analyses the dynamic characteristics of a parallel-cascaded tapping station... (more)
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Oil circuit breaker retrofit and switchgear safety solutions
by Richard Blakeley, RPS Switchgear
Oil has been employed as an insulating and arc-extinguishing medium in high voltage switchgear since the earliest switchgear was designed at the end of the 19th century. It has been extensively used in the development of switchgear at both transmission and distribution levels over the past 100 years and generally has a proven record of reliability and performance... (more)
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Pioneering electricity network demand management developments
by Herman Claassen, Eskom; and Paul Harris, Integrated Energy Solutions
A small team consisting of Eskom staff and independent energy consultants Integrated Energy Solutions, have been working together for the last two years developing novel methodologies that integrate demand side management with distribution network investment to enhance utility efficiencies... (more)
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Energy efficient compressed air systems
by Wayne Jacobs, Atlas Copco
This paper details the components of an average industrial compressed air installation and serves as a guideline to compressed air users as to where they may look to find inefficiencies within their installations... (more)
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Voltage power optimisation: efficiency, control over received power
by Alan Palmer, Power Optimisa
Voltage optimisation is the fastest growing energy efficiency technology intervention in major European economies. Until recently, few have thought or being able to tackle and control the actual power supply quality that enters their sites. Voltage power optimisation now offers this efficient control option.... (more)
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Multi-crystalline solar cells - beacons of hope for photovoltaics
Information from Solarpeq
Drastic cuts in subsidies in many European countries are forcing the solar industry to implement immediate cost reductions. This has resulted in a greater focus on multi-crystalline silicon cells again, a technology that delivers value for money and an efficiency that can easily be increased with relatively little effort... (more)
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Biogas digesters from SESSA member enhance quality of life in rural KZN
Information from SESSA
Biogas digesters have been installed in the Upper Thukela area in KwaZulu-Natal as part of a natural resource management project to enhance the quality of life of people living there. SESSA member Agama Biogas's Greg Austin reports back on the impact this sustainable technology has had... (more)
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Waste-to-energy
by Ronald G Harley, Xicon Infrastructure
This paper introduces the concepts behind municipal waste management, and then gives more details of the waste-to-energy process in particular. It compares the greenhouse gas emissions of traditional power plants against the WTE process, and gives operational data of tons per capita for different countries... (more)
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