Posts

NTCSA on track to begin trading on July 1, Marokane says

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane has confirmed that the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) is on track to begin trading on July 1 and that the new entity was being set up to operate as a fully independent subsidiary even though it would continue to be owned by Eskom Holdings and be located on the Megawatt Park campus. At a briefing hosted to enable Marokane to reflect on his first 100 days and to outline his strategic priorities, the CEO underlined that the NTCSA’s independent board was determined to provide “equal access” to the network as envisaged when the unbundling was initiated.
/by

Plans for piloting independent transmission projects model

Amid all the political upheaval, work is continuing with plans to pilot a model for introducing independent transmission projects. Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the prospects.  
/by

South Africa preparing to pilot independent transmission projects to bolster grid’s …

The National Treasury has confirmed that South Africa is moving to pilot a model that will enable the private sector to participate directly in the development and operation of transmission grid infrastructure, drawing lessons from the country’s experience in procuring generation capacity from independent power producers (IPPs). Deputy director-general Mmakgoshi Lekhethe reports that the model, which has been mooted by Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa for some time, is receiving priority attention in light of the scale of the investment required to unlock grid capacity for new renewables investment,
/by

GWK’s Christiana maize mill gets 1 MW solar PV system

Independent power producer Decentral Energy has commissioned a 1 MW solar PV system at food producer GWK’s Farm Foods Christiana maize mill. The ground-mounted, grid-tied solar PV system, which was designed and constructed by engineering, procurement and construction contractor Energy Gurus, will significantly reduce GWK Farm Foods Christiana maize mill’s reliance on traditional grid power and contribute to the company’s sustainability and energy security goals.
/by

MTN Business to digitise 257 municipalities through smart electricity and water meter technology

Telecommunications group MTN Business has been awarded a three-year contract to enhance the digitisation – through the implementation of smart electricity and water technology – across South Africa’s 257 municipalities. The RT29 transversal contract, awarded by National Treasury, will see MTN Business, starting from this month, supply, deliver, install, manage and maintain end-to-end smart metering solutions across the country.
/by

MTN Business to digitise 257 municipalities through smart electricity and water technology

Telecommunications group MTN Business has been awarded a three-year contract to enhance the digitisation – through the implementation of smart electricity and water technology – across South Africa’s 257 municipalities. The RT29 transversal contract, awarded by National Treasury, will see MTN Business, starting from this month, supply, deliver, install, manage and maintain end-to-end smart metering solutions across the country.
/by

Diversification of energy generation, consumption important for businesses, Discovery Green says

Businesses are increasingly prioritising the procurement of renewable energy, and especially solar energy, owing to loadshedding, electricity cost increases and risks associated with high carbon footprints, but run the risk of increasing their total energy costs, including from variability challenges. Analysis by renewable energy for business platform Discovery Green shows that the solution to these challenges lies in diversification, both in terms of energy generation and consumption, in line with traditional insurance principles of risk pooling and diversification.
/by

Eskom replaces over 400 transformers damaged by overloading

State-owned utility Eskom says that, to date, it has replaced 400 transformers damaged by network overloading since January. The entity points out that, as demand for electricity rises while temperatures fall with the onset of winter, the issue of network overloading has resurfaced in some areas owing to electricity theft.
/by

Benchmarking study highlights slow pace of South Africa’s grid-connection system

A new benchmarking assessment of South Africa’s electricity grid access queueing mechanisms indicates that Eskom’s systems are slower and less transparent than those being implemented in developed and developing countries analysed as part of the study. Published by the RES4Africa Foundation, the report includes case studies of the grid management frameworks being implemented in Brazil, Chile, Italy and by PJM Interconnection in the US.
/by

Solar installations slow in South Africa after blackouts ease

Repairs to South Africa’s coal-fired stations that have helped the State power utility avoid debilitating blackouts for three months straight is giving solar installers an unintended break. Until March, Eskom had inflicted power cuts for as many as 12 hours a day due to unreliable units prone to breakdowns. The outages have crimped the economy and inconvenienced residents who have burned candles, bought batteries and — for those who can afford it — put up solar panels.
/by