Big microgrid growth in South Africa

Hanno Labuschagne

Hanno Labuschagne

Journalist
Staff member
Joined
Sep 2, 2019
Messages
5,653
Reaction score
3,943
Big microgrid growth in South Africa

Smaller privately run electricity networks are seeing a surge in demand across South Africa's most popular provinces due to severe levels of load-shedding, Sunday newspaper Rapport reports.

A microgrid is a concentrated network consisting of power distribution infrastructure with a specific area that can feature its own generation — typically solar or wind — and often with a connection to the national grid.
 
Excellent.

Remove the scales from your eyes CoJ.
 
A neighbour with a large warehouse in the Aiport Industria has 144 panels on his roof and 12 batteries inside. He supplies 3 of his adjacent warehouse neighbours with electricity

One is a food warehouse with 14 freezers. None are open after hours

In May he received a letter from Eskom instructing him to disconnect the other units since "crossing the street was illegal". Turns out all 3 warehouses are adjacent to one another in the same street and it is private land.

He asked them to call and inspect, but nobody has come. The other 3 clients have sub-boards attached to a meter which sends consumption data daily

Payback will take 38 months
 
chrisc said:
A neighbour with a large warehouse in the Aiport Industria has 144 panels on his roof and 12 batteries inside. He supplies 3 of his adjacent warehouse neighbours with electricity

One is a food warehouse with 14 freezers. None are open after hours

In May he received a letter from Eskom instructing him to disconnect the other units since "crossing the street was illegal". Turns out all 3 warehouses are adjacent to one another in the same street and it is private land.

He asked them to call and inspect, but nobody has come. The other 3 clients have sub-boards attached to a meter which sends consumption data daily

Payback will take 38 months
Click to expand...
Much like Telkom

Private power generation will largely replace it.
 
I poked fun at Tshwane on one of the ward groups, made mention that our suburb should create a microgrid at some stage.

The land around the sub-station is all council owned and if developed it could house battery container packs.
Residents with Solar could feed back into the grid to help charge during the day.

The added advantages are working street lights, traffic lights continue working hopefully reducing frustration and travel times, and in general a "happy" community I would imagine.

Unfortunately not many residents were keen on the idea - if it doesn't benefit their immediate bubble they are less likely to contribute to the idea I guess.


Just read this now: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ener...-network-on-brink-of-collapse-city-power.html
Microgrids would certainly help with these issues.
 
blowdart18 said:
I poked fun at Tshwane on one of the ward groups, made mention that our suburb should create a microgrid at some stage.

The land around the sub-station is all council owned and if developed it could house battery container packs.
Residents with Solar could feed back into the grid to help charge during the day.

The added advantages are working street lights, traffic lights continue working hopefully reducing frustration and travel times, and in general a "happy" community I would imagine.

Unfortunately not many residents were keen on the idea - if it doesn't benefit their immediate bubble they are less likely to contribute to the idea I guess.


Just read this now: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/ener...-network-on-brink-of-collapse-city-power.html
Microgrids would certainly help with these issues.
Click to expand...
This is a good Idea. I would gladly contribute free solar to the municipality if they were to implement something like this. 2 of my houses solar mostly lay idle during the day.
 
Finished my 29th domestic solar job today. Still awaiting CoFCT's response to installations done in January.

One customer's wife works in Council billing dept. She says that overall consumption from Rondebosch, Bishopscourt, Tokai and Constantia has dropped between 8% and 11% compared to 2022 figures

That represents a substantial drop in income for Council. These are customers who pay their bills on time
 
chrisc said:
A neighbour with a large warehouse in the Aiport Industria has 144 panels on his roof and 12 batteries inside. He supplies 3 of his adjacent warehouse neighbours with electricity

One is a food warehouse with 14 freezers. None are open after hours

In May he received a letter from Eskom instructing him to disconnect the other units since "crossing the street was illegal". Turns out all 3 warehouses are adjacent to one another in the same street and it is private land.

He asked them to call and inspect, but nobody has come. The other 3 clients have sub-boards attached to a meter which sends consumption data daily

Payback will take 38 months
Click to expand...
Not allowed to wheel electricity privately over a property boundary.

If its the same property for all the factories, they can go suck an egg though.

I have a little factory space in Wetton I rent out - the BC has installed solar panels on the entire roof, and the BC is making good money selling self generated electricity to the units.

Less for CoCT too.
 
chrisc said:
Finished my 29th domestic solar job today. Still awaiting CoFCT's response to installations done in January.

One customer's wife works in Council billing dept. She says that overall consumption from Rondebosch, Bishopscourt, Tokai and Constantia has dropped between 8% and 11% compared to 2022 figures

That represents a substantial drop in income for Council. These are customers who pay their bills on time
Click to expand...
Perhaps explains why they are increasing electricity tariffs above what NERSA said.
 
itareanlnotani said:
Not allowed to wheel electricity privately over a property boundary.

If its the same property for all the factories, they can go suck an egg though.

I have a little factory space in Wetton I rent out - the BC has installed solar panels on the entire roof, and the BC is making good money selling self generated electricity to the units.

Less for CoCT too.
Click to expand...
That’s interesting, there’s a business opportunity right there, ”buy” factory roof space to load solar and batteries, then sell the electricity to the adjacent factories.
That would especially work well in those business parks, replicate that wherever there is a need and subcontract the installation and maintenance to 3rd parties. Just choose your customers well, established blue chip businesses that would welcome and gladly support an always available electricity supplier.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter