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Koeberg revamp: Race against time as nuclear regulator wants more work on safety case

The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has asked Eskom to undertake additional engineering studies on the Koeberg power station before it can deliberate on its application to extend the long-term operation licence for another 20 years.  Speaking at a briefing to editors in Johannesburg on Thursday, Eskom’s senior manager in its outage centre, Thabiso Moirapula, said that Eskom did not know yet if the licence for the 40-year old plant will be extended before it runs out in July 2024.
August 25, 2023 by

Eskom mulling new curtailment approach to unlocking grid capacity as it pursues 47 priority projects

State-owned utility Eskom has confirmed that it is prioritising 47 grid-related projects within its larger R210-billion Transmission Development Plan (TDP) that it believes could collectively add 37 GW of connection capacity over the coming few years. It is also close to finalising the approach it will be taking to the issue of curtailment as it moves to immediately unlock scarce grid capacity in high-potential renewables regions ahead of its grid investment roll-out.
August 25, 2023 by

Emissions requirement postponed for Kusile

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) announced in June that the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) has granted State-owned power utility Eskom a postponement to meet Minimum Emission Standards (MES) at its Kusile power station. The postponement will be in effect from June 5, 2023, to March 31, 2025, and is subject to certain strict conditions. 
August 25, 2023 by

Refurbishment under way at Kriel

Thermal solutions specialist Industrial Water Cooling (IWC) is working with State-owned power utility Eskom on the refurbishment of two natural draught cooling towers at its Kriel power station, in Mpumalanga. The refurbishment includes the installation of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) supports and polypropylene trickle fill, high-pressure cleaning of the ducts and distribution pipes, as well as the replacement of drift eliminators, sprayers and ladders.
August 25, 2023 by

Microgrid roll-out gaining traction

After the successful commissioning of State-owned power utility Eskom’s third microgrid, at the Swartkop dam, in the Northern Cape, the company aims to launch its next two microgrids at Nomalengena Village, in the Eastern Cape, and Nounieput, also in the Northern Cape, by December 31, 2023. The microgrids form part of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and Eskom’s efforts to achieve universal access to electricity using clean and reliable technologies and entails the dispatching of 100 microgrids across the country by March 2024 depending on suitable sites being identified on time.
August 25, 2023 by

Ex-SANDF captain becomes solar panel plant manager

Sustainable energy products developer Ener-G-Africa’s (EGA’s) latest all-women-led and -staffed solar manufacturing facility is a first-of-its-kind, as it is the only small solar panel plant in the world certified by German-accredited inspection authority Tuv Rheinland. The 800 m² plant manufactures 20 W panels that sell for around R300 each in South Africa, Malawi, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and several other African countries. The plant is run by ex-South African National Defence Force (SANDF) captain, now plant manager, Rene Salmon.
August 25, 2023 by

Eskom says inoperative Kusile units could be reintroduced earlier than planned as it reports …

The temporary stacks being introduced at the Kusile coal power station, where three previously operational units have been out of service for ten months, have been built and interim CEO Calib Cassim has expressed optimism that the units could be returned to service earlier than previously indicated. All three units, which have a combined capacity of 2 100 MW, became inoperable after the Unit 1 flue duct collapsed on October 23 due to a build-up of slurry. The collapse also compromised the unit 2 and 3 flue ducts, which share a common chimney with the Unit 1 flue.
August 24, 2023 by

Regulation important for a successful energy transition

South Africa has added almost 3.5 GW of private renewable power generation over 15 months between March 2022 and June 2023, but conflicting messaging from government creates uncertainty, Earth & Wire CEO and industry body South African Independent Power Producers Association chairperson Thomas Garner has said. The transition requires regulation to ensure that South Africa optimises its use of and investments in infrastructure, and regulators must move faster to ensure the power grid is stable and utilities and municipalities are sustainable, University of Stellenbosch Centre for Renewable & Sustainable Energy Studies power system simulation chairperson Dr Bernard Bekker.
August 24, 2023 by

Johannesburg secures initial private power deals

Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic hub, has secured bids from private producers to provide 92 megawatts of electricity to help shield the city from nationwide electricity shortages. The local government and Johannesburg utility City Power last year issued a request for short-term power purchase agreements. South Africa experiences electricity rationing on a regular basis as state-owned Eskom Holdings struggles to meet demand.
August 24, 2023 by