Opening the market to independent power producers (IPPs) has brought power purchase agreements (PPA) with it. The characteristics of a PPA depend on the electricity market, energy demand, political and policy requirements. The current form of PPA may well change as the proportion of IPP generation changes, and in line with market reform requirements. […]
The inverter landscape in the commercial PV market is rapidly evolving. This evolution is being driven by the growing role that inverters have in upfront costs (CAPEX) and ongoing costs (OPEX) of commercial PV systems. As the brain of PV systems, inverters are responsible for monitoring and managing energy generation. While inverters may only […]
Thermal pyrolytic gasification of waste is a well-established process, but has several disadvantages. Plasma gasifiers offer advantages in converting carbon-containing materials to synthesis gas, and the process is being used increasingly to dispose of municipal solid waste (MSW) and other waste types. Current technology makes use of plasma generated by electric arcs, but a […]
Lithium ion phosphate cells (LiFePO4) are beginning dominate the energy storage sphere among more discerning designers and customers. These cells have been used in electric vehicles since 2011 and are now appearing in stationary power applications. The expected LiFePO4 battery life in daily cycling off grid systems is 13 to 15 years, and as […]
Wind energy has undeniably become one of the fastest growing renewable energy technologies not only in terms of installed capacity but also in terms of technology development, facilitated by the recent advances in power electronics and control techniques. Different topologies have emerged ever since, the most recent ones trying to overcome the drawbacks of […]
Modern solar PV equipment is designed for reliable operation over the full lifetime of the product. In spite of this manufacturing defects and premature failures still occur which can affect the performance of a product. Reliability and quality are designed and built in to modern solar PV equipment. Mass production techniques, although controlled, and […]
Many rural areas within South Africa’s Western Cape province exhibit electricity demand profiles which, unlike the overall system, peak during summer. These are typically fruit growing areas, where farming methods and ideal weather conditions have resulted in load growth requiring ongoing strengthening of electricity distribution networks. The characteristic of these loads, predominantly irrigation, refrigeration […]
The Bracebridge Falls and Wilson’s Falls hydroelectric power stations on the Muskoka river in Ontario, Canada have been upgraded, modernised and extended to over four-times their original generating capacity. This additional power generation has helped the province to reduce its reliance on coal fired power stations. Bracebridge Falls and Wilson’s Falls generating stations are […]
The concept of a large solar park, accommodating a substantial solar energy generating capacity was first mooted in 2009, when a proposal to construct a 5 GW solar park in the Upington area was made by the minister of energy. The project has been overshadowed by the success of the REIPPPP, which ran independently […]
Africa continues to deploy small hydroelectric power facilities throughout the region to ensure reliable, affordable clean energy and utilise available water sources. Continued deployment will largely be dependent on bankable projects that begin at the feasibility stage of project development. According to a 2012 report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Africa has the […]
