Electricity + Control December 2019

TRANSFORMERS + SUBSTATIONS

Eskom shares its Transmission Development Plan 2020 to 2029 At the end of October 2019 Eskom shared its Transmission Development Plan (TDP) for the period 2020 to 2029 with various stakeholders at a public forum in Midrand. This is one of Eskom’sTransmission Licence requirements, as issued by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), which requires Eskom to publish a TDP annually.

at a glance

 As part of the TDP 2020 to 2029, Eskom plans to increase its transmission infrastructure by about 4 800 km of extra high voltage transmission lines and 35 000 MVA of transformer capacity.  The TDP is located within the context of the new Eskom Roadmap and the creation of a subsidiary for transmission within the proposed Eskom Holdings.

T he presentation of the plan at a public forum is part of a consultative process where industry, various business sectors, local government and other infrastructure development partners, have the opportunity to influence the long-term development plan for the transmission system. Segomoco Scheppers, Group Executive for Transmission said, “Some adjustments have been made to the TDP since its last publication in 2018. These include the re-phasing of capital investment in transmission projects to align with the project execution timelines associated with servitude acquisitions and current available funding.” Reporting on progress through 2019, Scheppers noted significant steps taken in the establishment of a transmission network to enable the successful connection of additional generation from Medupi and Kusile to the national grid. In addition, about 379 km of lines and 540 MVA of transformer capacity were successfully commissioned in the 2019 financial year. A number of transmission substations and transformer capacity enhancement projects were commissioned in support of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) Programme Bid Windows 1 to 3. This saw the number of connected projects increasing to 67, totalling 4 041 MW which was in operation by July 2019. As part of the TDP for the period 2020 to 2029, Eskom plans to increase its transmission infrastructure by approximately 4 800 km of extra high voltage transmission lines and 35 000 MVA of transformer capacity over the next 10 years. This is part of Eskom’s commitment to capital investment in infrastructure and compliance with the South African Grid Code, which sets out the essential requirements for a reliable and efficient transmission system. Scheppers highlighted that the Transmission Development Plan is located within the context of the new Eskom Roadmap and the creation of a subsidiary for transmission within the proposed Eskom Holdings.

22 Electricity + Control

DECEMBER 2019