Electricity + Control June 2015

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Solar installation reduces its reliance on the grid by 40 %
Having installed a 353 kWp solar photovoltaic cell grid-tied installa-
tion at its Isando (Johannesburg) manufacturing plant, voestalpine
has offset its reliance on the national grid by 40 %.The resulting sav-
ings to the plant’s operational costs will repay the R 7,3 M installation
within nine years. The project was contracted to SUNCybernetics,
the local partner of SUNFarming.
voestalpine’s Isando facility manufactures railroad turnouts
mounted on sleepers where trains are guided across changing
tracks. “Our design of an optimum solar-powered solution for voes-
talpine was based upon an analysis of the plant’s energy load profile
prior to the installation; the availability of elevated north-facing roofs
(which, further, had the strength to support the panels); as well as
an electronic solution that would minimise or prohibit the flow of
power back to the grid,” explains voestalpine’s energy consultant
Warwick Stark, director, Rawlyn Consulting.
As per voestalpine’s board’s requirement of needing three com-
parative quotes, Rawlyn assisted in a RFP by invitation to quote on
the required 353 kWp solar photovoltaic plant.The required 353 kWp
was determined by analysing voestalpine’s past annual average
load profile. Rawlyn assisted voestalpine in the evaluation of the
proposals on a technical basis in order to determine the final winning
bid. Designed to yield a usable 483 412 kWh/year, the photovoltaic
installation will effect annual savings of over R 600 000 against an
annual electricity bill of R 1 374 000 prior to the installation.
Stark. Email
Seismic safety of nuclear power plants will improve
Since the Fukushima accident, Nordic nuclear power plant areas
have given greater priority to understanding the safety implications
of seismic events.VTT and various Nordic players are co-developing
new methods of making seismic hazard estimates of anticipated
earthquakes in Fennoscandia. Little source modelling-based meas-
urement data is available on earthquakes in stable continental areas.
On 8 May 2015, VTTTechnical Research Centre of Finland organised
a workshop aimed at identifying and sharing the relevant Nordic
data. An upcoming four-year project will also involve updating exist-
ing earthquake source modelling techniques and developing new
ground motion simulation models for stable continental regions,
particularly the Fennoscandian Shield. A thorough empirical analy-
sis has been conducted. However, a lack of empirical observations
of ground motion close to actual, high-magnitude earthquakes in
Fennoscandia has impeded our understanding of the seismic load
caused by a potential earthquake close to a nuclear power plant.
Recent developments in calculation methods are enabling the
formation of calculation models that generate realistic estimates
of earthquake loads.The project’s network of experts will focus on
areas at low risk of seismic activity in the Nordic countries and fur-
ther strengthen cooperation between VTT and Uppsala University
in seismic source modelling. In this project, the partners ofVTT will
be Aalto University, the University of Helsinki, Uppsala University,
GEUS Geological Survey of Denmark and the Nordic leader in
technical consulting, ÅF.The project will be funded by NKS Nordic
Nuclear Safety Research. The project’s long-term goal will be to
expand cooperation of this kind to cover the Baltic countries.The
project results will not only provide the background information
required for the safety assessment of nuclear power plants, but
will also be important with regard to final disposal repositories for
nuclear waste. In addition, the results will be useful for the National
Nuclear Power Plant Safety Research (SAFIR2018) programme’s
NEST project.
Enquiries: Ludovic Fülöp. Email
South Africa’s regulations for drones
Regulations will come into force in July 2015 regarding the use of
remotely piloted aircraft systems or drones.The regulations have
been signed by the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters. Among the
regulations are the following:
• You will need a licence to fly a drone
• Minimum age will be 18 years
• A class four medical certificate for beyond visual line of sight
operations or operations involving drones classified as class 3
or higher
• Alternatively, a restricted certificate of proficiency in aeronauti-
cal radiotelephony
• Drone pilots will need to provide proof that they speak English
at a proficiency level of four or higher
• If a pilot has the correct licence, an issued letter of approval,
valid for 12 months, will be required
• A drone will not be sold unless the seller notifies the buyer of
the operational requirements imposed by the Sacaa
• A drone cannot tow another aircraft, perform aerial or aerobatic
displays or be flown in a formation or swarm
• Drones will not be flown next to or above a nuclear power plant,
prison, police station, crime scene, court of law, national key
point or installation
• No drone will be operated 121,92 m above the surface or within
a radius of 10 km from an aerodrome, be flown overhead any
person or group, or within a lateral distance of 50 m from any
person, or within a lateral distance of 50 m from a structure or
a building
• Public roads for landing and take-off of a drone will be prohib-
ited
ENERGY + ENVIROFICIENCY ROUND UP
Electricity+Control June ‘15 38