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FEATURED ARTICLE
- The importance of gas as an energy source
  by Ken Gafner, SDE
  South Africans seem to be convinced that the best form of energy is electricity. But this is not always true. Natural gas is a clean-burning source of energy which is ideal for many industrial processes. In the latest iteration of the country’s energy plan, the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2019), gas is predicted to provide 8% […]
LEAD EDITORIAL: more >>
- To readers, customers, suppliers, staff and other stakeholders of Energize
  by Chris Yelland and Irene Blythe, EE Publishers
  . It is with some sadness that we must advise that, after more than 25 years of business, EE Publishers will be closing at the end of November 2019. The state of both the economy and the publishing sector in South Africa have impacted the company negatively as customers cut back on advertising and marketing […]
FRONT COVER STORY: more >>
- Power quality analysis: Choose Fluke’s 438-II
  Electric motors are the key component in many industrial processes, and can account for up to 70 % of the total energy consumed in an industrial plant, and consume up to 46 % of all generated electricity worldwide. Given their critical nature for industrial processes, the cost of downtime associated with failed motors can be […]
INDUSTRY NEWS: more >>
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COMPANY & PRODUCT NEWS: more >>

VIEWS & OPINION: more >>
GENERATION: more >>
- CTL technology: A means to attaining Botswana’s fuel self-sufficiency goal
  by Kudakwashe Gamba, Lifa Communications
  Despite the drive for a reduction in the carbon emissions footprint globally, petroleum products remain an essential energy cornerstone in the global economy, but many countries on the African continent lack the refineries and related infrastructure required to turn their black gold (bituminous coal) resources into sufficient liquid fuels to meet domestic demand and the […]
- Digitalisation and the operation and maintenance of generation plant
  by Mike Rycroft, EE Publishers
  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 […]
- Medupi magic fails Eskom and South Africa – the stuff of nightmares
  by Chris Yelland, investigative editor, EE Publishers
  Following major problems that brought Eskom’s Medupi power station to its knees during the height of the load shedding last week, Medupi’s power station manager, Rudi van der Wal, is leaving Eskom to take up a position overseas. Van der Wal had resigned before the mess started, and was due to leave in about two […]
TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION: more>>
- Power electronics for MV distribution networks improve performance
  by Mike Rycroft, EE Publishers
  The move to larger distributed renewable energy-based systems has led to the connection of medium scale renewable energy (RE) generating systems in the MV network, with consequent effects on network operation and stability. Network reconfiguration is a common solution, but the emerging use of power electronic devices promises to solve most problems. Medium voltage (MV) […]
- How to improve electrical network reliability
  Information from Noja Power
  For an electricity distribution utility, the core directive and core revenue stream is the supply of electricity to end customers. Any interruption to that stream of energy causes an economic loss to the utility. Not only does the interruption hurt a utility customer’s meter readings, but regulators apply their own fines and incentives for utilities […]
- Protecting grid connections of large-scale renewable generation
  by Gurinder Saluja and Joseph Treacy, TransGrid
  New large-scale connections require cost-efficient designs, must maintain network reliability and security requirements and have a very short time to project completion. Most of the connections also require wide area special protection schemes to ensure the network is operated in a secure, reliable way while maintaining the quality of supply. The majority of Australia’s state […]
APPLICATION: more >>
- Choosing a variable frequency drive or soft starter
  Information from WEG
  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 […]
- Prevention of bearing currents in large inverter driven electrical machines
  by Mike Rycroft, EE Publishers
  While bearing currents have been around since the advent of electric motors, the incidence of damage they cause has increased with the advent of high switching frequency variable frequency drives (VFDs). Inverters based on fast switching power electronics, such as IGBTs, allow improved operation of variable speed drives, but high switching speed leads to fast […]
- Understanding the basics of power measurement theory
  Information from Fluke
  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 […]
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY: more >>
- Ground based PV soiling control
  by Mike Rycroft, EE Publishers
  A recent article highlighted the steps taken to gain a few percentage points in the efficiency of PV panels. While these small gains can have a large impact on output, the gains can be cancelled out by losses due to soiling. Prediction and control of soiling forms an important part of operations for a solar […]
- The digitalisation of PV operations
  Information from New Energy Update
  All eyes are on digital technology as European PV plant operators continue to seek meaningful reductions in asset management and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs. Digitalisation promises to slash operational expenses and boost efficiency by automating many tasks that currently have to be done by hand, and by improving asset managers’ ability to rapidly identify […]
- Lightning and surge protection for rooftop PV systems
  by Wiilliam van Wyk, Dehn Africa
  Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems are extremely exposed and therefore especially vulnerable to damage caused by the direct and indirect results of lightning strikes. Since the PV system is directly connected to the electrical installation of the building, lightning strikes can have severe consequences for people inside the building, as well as the structure itself and […]

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