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Eskom and the cost of coal price controls...
by Chris Yelland, EE Publishers
 With a looming coal supply shortage to meet Eskom's demand, bullying tactics, limitations on coal exports and price controls will certainly not lead to the necessary investment and development of new coal mines. Central command and control economies have failed spectacularly, and Eskom's coal supply strategy appears confused, contradictory and irrational... ( more) |
In support of the carbon tax
by Mike Rycroft, features editor
 In May 2013 the treasury published the carbon tax policy paper for public comment. The paper has attracted a great deal of comment in the media. Predictably, all the comment has been negative, with criticism leveled against the tax proposal itself, the manner in which it will be introduced, the reasons given for its introduction, the levels of taxation and other issues... ( more) |
The Jacob Marley column: A ray of hope?
Common wisdom holds that every cloud has a silver lining and that the darkest hour is just before the dawn breaks. So it seems that the electricity supply industry, which has been shrouded in dark misery for six or seven years now - and rudderless for twice that long - may be experiencing its darkest hour... ( more) |
In memoriam: Danie Potgieter
Information from AMEU
 It is with sadness that the AMEU secretariat reports the death of Danie Potgieter who passed away on 19 July 2013. He was a well-known and well-loved honorary member and past president of the association. He will be remembered as a humble, friendly man with natural leadership qualities and a wonderful sense of humour... ( more) |
In memoriam: Wynand Viljoen
Information from AMEU
 The industry was saddened by the passing of Wynand Viljoen on 11 July 2013. He served the city of Matlosana as the director of electrical and mechanical engineering services for 21 years. Viljoen was a registered professional technologist in electrical and mechanical engineering with government tickets in both disciplines... ( more) |
The development of underground coal gasification
by Mike Rycroft, features editor
Underground coal gasification (UCG) coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS) offers huge potential as a method of exploiting large coal resources on land and offshore. In addition to numerous projects worldwide, there are several projects both active and being planned in South Africa... ( more) |
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The future role of fossil power generation
by Andreas Pickard and Gero Meinecke, Siemens Energy
Operational flexibility of conventional power plants is set to become more and more important in the future. This trend is already becoming apparent in the power generation market and is also reflected in the changing demands made on fossil-fired power plants by the power producers... (more) |
Paper insulated cables for power applications
Information from Aberdare Cables
Paper insulated cables have been in use longer than any other type of cable insulation and are still a favourite with engineers. When selected properly and installed correctly, paper insulated cables can be relied upon to provide satisfactory and trouble-free performance... (more) |
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Energize Inbox
This month's letters address issues raised by readers to the cost of keeping the lights on and the pollution risks associated with the Kusile power station... (more) |
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Local manufacture of cast resin transformers
by Mike Rycroft, features editor
Dry type cast resin transformers have been on the market for several years and have significant advantages over oil filled ones in many applications. A local company has set up plant to manufacture cast resin transformers and has produced the first batch for delivery to customers... (more)
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Power transformer noise: sources, factors and remedies
by Matshediso Phoshoko, Powertech Transformers
Transformers generate a characteristic sound, classified as noise by people residing near them. This article explores the sources of this noise and the ways in which it may be reduced... (more) |
Power alert - reducing residential demand
by L Venter, Eskom; FGT Radloff, Energy Cybernetics; and LJ Grobler and AZ Dalgleish, North-West University
Power Alert is a residential load management tool that is unique to South Africa. It is extremely successful in creating measurable demand reductions, and has been awarded various national and international awards... (more) |
Municipal liquid waste: a neglected source of energy
by Mike Rycroft, features editor
Liquid waste handled by municipal wastewater treatment plants is being recognised as a source of biofuel that can be used to produce electricity in sufficient volumes to reduce the electrical load of the water treatment plant, and even produce surplus power to feed into the grid... (more)
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Waste energy harvesting with a thermoelectric generator
by Shaveen Maharaj and Poobalan Govender, Durban University of Technology
The feasibility of a design of a portable device that can be easily connected at industrial sites to generate green electricity from expended heat energy is studied to power DC devices such as cell phone chargers, LED lighting and small electronic appliances often powered from the USB port of a computer... (more) |
Harmonic heresies
by Mike Rycroft, features editor
AC power circuits and components are designed to cater for pure sinusoidal voltage and current waveforms. In many applications, distorted current and voltage waveforms are encountered, which can have deleterious effects on circuits and components... (more) |
Power quality - problems and solutions
Information from ABB
Modern society has become dependent on a continuous supply of clean electrical power. But power supplied by the grid is not clean, or continuous, and measures have to be taken to mitigate this... (more) |
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EE Publishers (Pty) Ltd.
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