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Electricity
+
Control
JULY 2017
Figure 2: A Complex Adaptive System.
First
, it is a network that comprises of organisa-
tional elements or entities that are interconnect-
ed and exhibit adaptivity in response to changes
in the external environment or the entities them-
selves. An electricity supply network with nodes
or agents representative of electricity production
capacities easily portrays this. Where mainstream
power plants are the typical agents to be found in
such a supply network, a free agent can be intro-
duced in the form of a temporary power plant or
a different technology. The system then has a new
interaction. The interactivity is possible because of
synchronous technology of the temporary power
plant that contributes a high level of operational
stability. This makes sense in that sub-Saharan Af-
rica’s energy mix would comprise renewable pow-
er generation sources that pose challenges to sys-
tem reliability and performance, given
their inherent intermittent contribution
and associated disturbances to the grid
or system.
Second
, Complex Adaptive Systems
are self-organising and provide the best
fit with the environment through feed-
back mechanisms. Temporary power
plants have control mechanisms that
provide flexibility in their supply scheme
in that they can be loaded, unloaded,
follow demand profiles and their main-
tenance scheduled in order to optimise
availability and operation with transmis-
sion system operators.
Third
, Complex Adaptive Systems
co-evolve to the edge of chaos to take
advantages where maximum creativity, diversity
and variety exist. Thus when their environments
change, the entities co-evolve and change the envi-
ronment. This is a continuous process of co-evolu-
tion. Sub-Saharan Africa is beleaguered with power
POWER SOLUTIONS
Specific characteristics
of complex adaptive
systems and the fit
of free agents in the
form of temporary or
rental power solutions
are emphasised to
describe system
performance potential.
Figure 1: Complex Adaptive Systems.
Captive
Power for
User: Local
Addition
Export to
Grid: System
Addition
Free Agent:
Rental Power
Plant
Existing Power
Stations: Have
disturbances
National Grid:
The System
Feedback
Feedback
Agents
Regularities
Pattern