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June 2016
Energy Efficiency
T
he partnership seeks to syner-
gise the research capabilities
of the two organisations in
support of Eskom’s strategic and op-
erational needs. The overall account-
ability to manage the agreement will
reside within Eskom’s Research, Test-
ing and Development business unit.
Speaking at the signing of the five
year agreement, Eskom Group Chief
Executive, Brian Molefe, says that
the partnership will strengthen the
relationship between the CSIR and
Eskom.
“The partnership will further
strengthen our collaborative rela-
tionship and, accordingly, provides
a long term platform to perform
scientific and operational research
and evaluation tasks towards the
realisation of Eskom’s strategic and
operational needs.”
He added that Eskomwill prioritise
projects to ensure operational and
financial sustainability, as well as
refurbish current plants to provide
electricity on new infrastructure
projects. CSIR Chief Executive Officer
Sibusiso Sibisi says that energy is one
of the CSIR’s area , s of focus.
“Together Eskomand the CSIR can
come up with innovative solutions
for current and future energy issues,
determine what the new electricity
system will look like and what the
plans and responses should be that
need to be put in place to build the
Eskom and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
have signed a partnership that is aimed at aligning and enhancing
interaction between the two bodies in support of national goals.
Eskom and CSIR team up
future South African energy system,”
says Sibisi.
Eskom has identified three im-
peratives that have been expanded
to identify newand existing technolo-
gies and capabilities that can address
specific challenges. The organisa-
tions will work together on extending
the transmission components’ lifes-
pan through predictivemaintenance;
real-time grid monitoring using the
Advanced Fire Information System
and laser-based refurbishment of
high-value components, among
others.
This also includes safely deliver-
ing on the new build programme
and capacity management. Re-
search and development will focus
on the reduction of water consump-
tion; development of advanced
emission control technologies; the
development of components for use
in advanced high-temperature gas
reactors andmodelling of associated
technologies. Aspects to be jointly
investigated include security risk
management solutions, to prevent
theftand safeguardhigh-value assets;
cable and infrastructure theft detec-
tion and prevention.
In the long term, Eskom is also
facing significant challenges from
fundamental shifts in the electricity
and energy system. This includes an
increasing contribution of renewable
technologies as well as the future
focus on new build.
■
T
ransport Minister Dipuo Peters
says that the construction of
the solar plant took 24 weeks
to complete. “The R13 million solar
plant is in line with government’s
developmental imperatives, energy
security priorities and environmen-
tal conservation obligations,” said
Peters.
The solar farm, which is located on
0,7 hectares of landwithin the airport
precinct, uses an 11 kV substation as
it its main source of supply, which is
located at the airport.
“Rigorous practical training and
skills transfer to operate and main-
tain the Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
plant was conducted, which included
cleaning modules, replacing mal-
functioning electrical components
and monitoring performance of PV
plant, amongst other technical skills,”
TheAirports CompanySouthAfrica (ACSA) recently launched its second
solar power plant at the Kimberley Airport, in the Northern Cape.
Solar power plant launched in Kimberley
says Peters. The Kimberley Airport
Solar Plant will utilise Solar PV. It is
the second regional airport in South
Africa to be powered through solar
energy, with the first being theGeorge
Airport Solar Plant, which opened in
February 2016. “ACSA has a statutory
responsibility to manage, mitigate
and report environmental issues at
its nine airports. The completion of
the solar power plant at Kimberley
Airport forms part of ACSA’s broader
plan to install solar energy plants at
all six regional airports over the next
three to five years tomake themmore
self-sufficient,” concluded Peters.
■