by Tom Harris, research analyst, Frost & Sullivan Africa

In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last month, on the evening of 17 June 2014, President Jacob Zuma fleetingly highlighted government's support of a strategy to raise nuclear generation capacity in South Africa (quoting the potential for the addition of over 9000 MW of nuclear capacity), while highlighting shale gas and nuclear energy as core industries that need to be developed.

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This strategy was recently reaffirmed by new energy minister, Tina Joematt-Peterson, who highlighted in her budget vote speech that: "the nuclear expansion option is [now] a central feature in our future energy mix" - indicating that between R300-billion and R1-trillion will be allocated towards a nuclear build programme.

While it is undeniable that the construction of additional base-load generation capacity is required in order to address the country's issues of energy security, one cannot help but raise the question: why is such a strong focus repeatedly being placed on nuclear, despite several energy analysts holding a contradictory view?

Is this focus being driven by the overall affordability of nuclear energy? The short answer: probably not. While comparing generation technologies is not as simple as it may seem, given that different technologies have different functional life spans, different operational costs, different environmental impacts and are employed for different functions- considering average capital costs does provide a starting point for comparing the pros and cons of generation alternatives.

The recent Update to the Integrated Resource Plan states that at an overnight capital cost above US$6500 per kilowatt (kW), no new nuclear capacity will be procured - with the capacity instead being allocated to concentrated solar power (CSP), wind and combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT).

This is critical, as the most recent nuclear power contracts in Europe suggest such a favourable cost scenario is unlikely to occur. The latest Russian (Rosatom) nuclear deal in Hungary for the Paks nuclear power plant cost US$7031 per kW, while the contract for Hinkley Point C in the United Kingdom with Électricité de France (EDF) was believed to be concluded at around US$7900 per kW.

EDF has been guaranteed a price for the power the plant generates of $155,40 (£92,50) per MWh. This equates to R1,66 per kWh, which is substantially more expensive than the average prices recently concluded in Round 3 of the Renewable Energy IPP (REIPP) Programme... (more)

 

The Centre for Substation Automation and Energy Management Systems (CSAEMS) and the Centre for Real-Time Distributed Systems at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, invites specialists from Eskom, municipalities, design institutions, consultants, contractors, vendors and universities to attend a 3-day seminar on:

presented by Dr. Alexander Apostolov, adjunct professor, CPUT

The seminar has been submitted for accreditation for two ECSA CPD points

DATES: 17 to 19 September 2014 (days can be individually registered for)
VENUE: Auditorium, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (Bellville Campus), Symphony Way, Bellville, Cape Town
COST: Non university attendees: R5800 for 3 days, or R2200 per day; University attendees: R4000 for 3 days, or R1500 per day

Click here for the full programme and CV of presenter
Click here to download the registration form

BACKGROUND

The International standard for substation automation systems IEC61850 defines the communication between devices in the substations and determines the related systems requirements. It supports both substation automation functions and their engineering. The technical approach applied to development of IEC61850 makes it flexible and future proof.

THE SEMINAR

The Seminar "IEC 61850 Edition 2 - a Standard for Power System Automation and Energy Management" extends the knowledge-base acquired during the 2009 seminar "IEC 61850: Fundamentals, Applications and Benefits", the 2010 seminar "IEC61850: Developments and Applications", the 2011 seminar "IEC 61850-Edition 2 and its Impact", and the 2012 seminar "IEC 61850 and its Role in a Smart Grid".

The seminar emphasises the role of IEC 61850 in automation and management of power systems, discussing the business case for using IEC 61850 Edition 2. The current status of different parts of the standard and its ongoing developments and related reports, is described. The seminar shows how to integrate the Distributed Energy Resources in power system automation, distribution and transmission management systems. It also considers the impact of IEC 61850 Edition 2 on substation-to-substation communications, on substation-to-control centre communications, on Wide Area Monitoring, Protection and Control (WAMPAC), and on the engineering of electric power systems and their components. Requirements for asset management of electric power systems and for the organisational and other changes related to the penetration of IEC 61850 are discussed.

The third day of the seminar is dedicated to practical demonstrations presented by specialists in the field of Substation Automation and Energy Management Systems.

PROGRAMME

The seminar programme comprises ten comprehensive lectures with open discussion time, held over two days (17 and 18 Sept 2015) from 08h00 to 17h00. This is followed by five hands-on demonstrations and an open discussion on 19 Sept 2014 from 09h00 to 14h00.

Click here for the full programme and CV of presenter 
Click here to download the registration form

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, registration and payment, please contact:

Miss P Panda, Tel 021 953-8454, Email phaphama.panda22@gmail.com
Prof. R Tzoneva, Tel 021 959-6459, Email tzonevar@cput.ac.za