Transmission expansion delays strain South Africa’s power grid

South Africa is about two decades behind in implementing its transmission expansion plans, leaving its energy grid under mounting pressure, owing to ageing infrastructure, transmission constraints and a growing demand for stable power supply across key industries, says power solutions supplier Aggreko Energy Services sales head Johan Helberg. This shortfall has severely limited the effective integration of independent power producers (IPPs) and alternative energy sources, which he says has further exacerbated grid instability.