Electricity + Control November 2015

DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR

NERSA – National Energy Regulator of South Africa PV – Photovoltaic

Abbreviations/Acronyms

• Solar power is cutting into power utility company sales and revenues. • Advances in solar PV technology and battery design will soon make the electricity grid an option for many. • Solar-plus-battery systems are available in South Africa today.

Conclusion Market watchers are already accepting the so-called ‘utility death spiral’ which they say will result in the eventual demise of traditional utility business models. Solar PV early adopters will increase their pain and speed the day of grid parity. Will Eskom accept the change or cling obstinately to its increasingly-challenged, legacy business paradigms? Another important question is will Eskom, NERSA, technology providers and customers be able to work together to reshape the market either within existing regulatory frameworks or under an evolved regulatory landscape to build an electricity system of the future that delivers reliability as well as value and affordability to the South African consumer?

take note

Jack Ward is the Chief Executive Officer of Soltra Energy, a leader on the African continent in the field of solar pho- tovoltaic power provisioning systems and infrastructures. Enquiries: Garreth Johnson. Email garreth.johnson@soltra.co.za