An interview with Hitachi Energy
South Africa is seeing the wholesale transformation of its energy system. This encompasses generation, transmission, distribution, storage, monitoring and control. As renewables ultimately replace fossil fuels, power grids must remain resilient and become even more flexible to adapt to fast-changing demands. This places the spotlight on innovative new technologies in the energy sector. The focus on renewable energy and microgrid solutions with battery energy storage systems (BESS) is ideal to ensure stable and sustainable power by harnessing solar energy for a clean-energy future.
Even though coal continues to play a dominant role in South Africa’s power mix, the country can still leverage the massive opportunity of harnessing renewables and distributed energy resources. Hitachi Energy is advancing a sustainable energy future for all.
Energize spoke to Malvin Naicker, the managing director of Hitachi Energy, sub-Saharan Africa, about how the global technology leader provides customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain.
Together with customers, partners, governments and other key stakeholders, Hitachi Energy is pioneering technologies to enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future.
Energize: The government has opened the door for greater private sector participation in South Africa’s electricity industry. What does Hitachi Energy propose as being the best way forward?
Malvin Naicker: The current challenge in ensuring sufficient generation capacity in South Africa places the spotlight on innovative technologies in the energy sector. What we see in South Africa is the wholesale transformation of the energy system, encompassing generation, transmission, distribution, storage, monitoring and control. As renewables ultimately replace fossil fuels, power grids must remain resilient and become even more flexible to adapt to fast-changing demands.
The current shortfall in electricity supply not only calls for a dramatic increase in generation capacity but presents a major opportunity for a technology leader like Hitachi Energy to assist in optimising the national grid.
Energize: What technologies can Hitachi Energy offer South Africa to help mitigate the impact of load shedding?
Malvin Naicker: Asset Performance Management (APM) is key, especially as load shedding represents abnormal operation of a power grid. Load shedding introduces more potential risk of equipment failure because it is difficult to continuously monitor the health of assets and predict potential failures and reprioritise maintenance.
It is key to not only provide a more effective maintenance management environment but also to improve the productivity of the technical teams carrying out the work, and Hitachi’s Lumada APM enables this. Hitachi Energy’s e-mesh™ digital ecosystem provides software management for distributed generation at both a local and fleet level, with built-in maintenance management for performance prediction at both a local and fleet level.
The e-mesh portfolio offers end-to-end distributed energy solutions, combining advanced analytics, software technology, and hardware systems. Our PowerStore™ battery energy storage solutions ensure the highest penetration of renewables share, increase grid stability, and provide reliable power while minimising CO2 emissions.
The new-age automation solution, built using our proven MicroSCADA and RTU platforms, helps to monitor and control distributed energy resources. Network Manager is an integrated network operations platform that includes advanced distribution management system (ADMS) capabilities to extend grid control and optimisation. Network Manager provides functionality for the safe and efficient operation of sub-transmission, medium- and low-voltage distribution networks on the island.
Energize: Please tell us about Hitachi Energy’s generation systems in other countries.
Malvin Naicker: An example of the assistance that Hitachi Energy provides to utilities is its involvement with Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (EEM) on the Madeira Island of Porto Santo. The addition of Hitachi Energy’s PowerStore battery energy storage system solution enables increased adoption of renewable energy while stabilising the system and reducing voltage fluctuation.
Other practical examples of Hitachi Energy’s solutions in action include the microgrids it commissioned in Longmeadow, Johannesburg in 2016 and on Robben Island (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in 2017. Systems which are grid connected and need to meet local grid code requirements or exceed 1 MW can become quite complex.
Energize: Are Hitachi Energy solutions aimed at utility-scale or industrial-scale electricity provision?
Malvin Naicker: Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader which is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world’s energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value.
Energize: South Africa has committed itself to reducing CO2 emissions associated with the generation of electricity by burning coal. How would Hitachi Energy’s technologies help South Africa to transition to cleaner electricity generation?
Malvin Naicker: Our mission is to ensure that the world’s energy system is sustainable, flexible and secure. The world of energy continues to evolve, and therefore Hitachi Energy is developing its energy market reach and portfolio into new areas, expanding beyond the grid.
Energize: Microgrids are often mentioned as being part of a modern electricity system. What benefits would microgrids offer to communities and businesses plagued by outages?
Malvin Naicker: The focus on renewable energy means that microgrid solutions with battery energy storage systems (BESS) are ideal to ensure stable and sustainable power, by harnessing solar as well as wind and hydro energy for a clean-energy future. Even though coal continues to play a dominant role in South Africa’s power mix, the country can still leverage the massive opportunity of distributed energy resources.
Energize: Regarding microgrids, what battery technologies would be offered?
Malvin Naicker: Hitachi Energy’s BESS solutions focus on grid support functions and are designed to work with third party batteries. Currently the technologies deployed in high energy projects include Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and Li-ion chemistries. This could extend to other battery chemistries in the future.
Energize: How would Hitachi Energy partner with Eskom and IPPs to extend the capacity of an existing, or new-build, private electricity generating project?
Malvin Naicker: It is important to note that Hitachi Energy is a technology and solutions provider. Our Energy Trading & Risk Management (ETRM) solutions consistently win awards and recognition from users and renowned industry think tanks, thereby confirming our proven track record as a global ETRM leader.
We help organisations meet sustainability targets, minimise market risk while maximising profitability, and comply with ever-changing industry regulations and standards. Our ETRM solutions are uniquely positioned to support the ‘three Ds of energy’: Decarbonisation, Digitalisation and Decentralisation.
These drive the energy transition as well as commodities that enable renewable energy technologies. Serving producers, utilities and trading companies across the globe, our award-winning ETRM solutions are purpose-built software systems designed to automate complex tasks. We support the entire trade cycle from the front to the back office.
For more information on Hitachi Energy’s offerings, please visit www.hitachienergy.com/africa/en
Contact Tamara Naidoo, Hitachi Energy, Phone 010 202-5093, tamara.naidoo@hitachienergy.com
