Enigin Update - South Africa Facing Black Outs
SOUTH AFRICA’S Department of Energy has warned that the country will suffer from rolling power black outs unless urgent steps are take to implement energy efficiency and alternative energy sources.
The magnitude of South Africa’s power problems were highlighted last week when the department revealed the country’s electricity system was running close to capacity, stating:
“The latest forecasts indicate a worsening situation starting in 2011 and proceeding through to 2016, This situation poses a real risk of rolling blackouts, similar to those experienced in 2008, and a serious threat to government’s objectives for growth and job creation.”
Eskom, the utility company providing about 90 percent of South Africa’s power, has been warning of the ensuing challenges for quite a while, but critics say the company’s language has been moderate without any warnings of a limited power supply and no mention of looming blackouts.
Kannan Lakmeeharan, Eskom’s MD for system operations and planning, said the electricity system is under increased pressure because growth in South Africa is ahead of the planned increase in power generation, hence there may not be enough electricity supply to meet rising demand.
The Department of Energy released a medium-term risk mitigation plan in which they said:
“From 2011 to 2016, rolling blackouts are anticipated unless extraordinary steps are taken to accelerate the realisation of the non-Eskom generation and energy efficiency projects.”
The solutions proposed in the plan were used at the height of South Africa’s 2008 power crisis, with the government highlighting again the use of alternative power provisions and particularly demand-side power management.
Enigin Distributors across the Cape have the solutions for the public and private sectors to enable them to manage energy use in real time, along with load-side controls, lowering energy bills and energy demand.
The trends in South Africa over the past eight years should have provided enough warning signs of danger, wrote Siseko Njobeni in Business Day. Laying out the facts Njobeni stated:
“In 2002, the reserve margin — a measure of available capacity over and above the capacity needed to meet normal peak demand levels — was 25%, in 2004 it was 20%, in 2006 it was 16% and by 2007 it had fallen to below 10%.
“In spite of danger signals, progress in energy efficiency has been patchy, as has the government’s track record in luring private power producers.”
Alongside the risk mitigation plan the Department of Energy also released a draft integrated resource plan, revealing where they see the advancement of power generation for the future of South Africa.
The plan reveals significant increases in energy efficiency to help match power demand, as well as increases in nuclear and renewable energy, although efficiencies are by far the cheapest and quickest option.
“We can reasonably assume that for the next 15 years most of the reduction in energy intensity is derived from improved energy efficiency, driven by increased electricity prices,” the draft report states.
Energy efficiency measures taken now could prevent, postpone or lessen the impact of future power black outs, Enigin Distributors are already helping many organisations to save energy and money with Enigin Products.
Picture by NJR ZA
