Microgrids and distributed energy resources (DERs) represent the grid of the future. So says Schneider Electric’s Poonam Lutchman. Speaking at the recent AMEU Convention in Cape Town, Lutchman said that municipalities need to become autonomous and secure sustainable revenue by getting ready for DER. The integration of DERs into grids makes these grids more complex […]
When accelerating an AC motor to full speed using a full voltage connection, a large inrush current may be required. Additionally, the torque of the AC motor is mostly uncontrolled and can shock the connected equipment, potentially causing damage. Variable frequency drives and reduced voltage soft starters can reduce inrush currents and limit torque thereby […]
Growing demands are placed on utilities to meet performance and other requirements. Plant operations must be able to quickly and efficiently respond to constantly changing demand while meeting operational limits. Digitalisation offers the potential to improve control beyond the scope of the digital monitoring and control networks used in power plant today. Digitalisation has become […]
Cigre is uniquely positioned as a community of thought leaders, decision-makers, and technology leaders across the world with power system expertise and forward-looking thought leadership to improve electricity infrastructure for society. This is the view of Rob Stephen, Cigre’s international president. Speaking at the organisation’s recent conference and colloquium, which were held at the Misty […]
Electrical power applications are changing rapidly which means the load on the electric network is changing: more harmonics and more risk of unbalance. This so-called “bad” power costs money and wastes energy. This article provides some basic theory to understand what is happening with today’s electrical applications. Apparent power To understand the relation between active […]
Industrial power quality (PQ) solutions generally consist of discrete devices to deal with individual problems. If more than one problem arises, more than one device is required. Voltage fluctuations and other disturbances are becoming more severe on the grid with the increasing amount of new load such as electric vehicle charging, automated machinery and embedded […]
Vestas has secured a 31 MW order from Windpark Albertshof, a subsidiary of the public utility Berliner Stadtwerke, for a wind park near Albertshof, Brandenburg. The company provides a full engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) solution, leveraging its extensive experience from turnkey projects globally. Apart from the supply and installation of the wind turbines, the […]
PV project grows Egypt’s renewable energy portfolio A new 50 MW solar power plant is to be built in Egypt. The plant, which will be built in Zafarana, will be funded by the German Development Bank and is expected start delivering power before the end of 2020. The Zafarana plant is the second project executed […]
Nedbank and EE Publishers are hosting a morning seminar on: Flexible power generation: A new paradigm in SA and an alternative to “baseloadism” This is the 4th in a series of important infrastructure seminars from Nedbank & EE Publishers DATE: Tuesday 22 October 2019 TIME: 09h00 to 14h30 (see detailed programme below) VENUE: Nedbank Main […]
It is already too late to hope that the introduction of gas generation in the new energy mix would contribute to avoiding the projected power deficit from about 2023, according to panelists at a recent gas forum. The consensus was that to implement such a project would require at least six years, if everything was […]
