Gauteng rolls out microgrid in Alex

[Jan]

Joburg township's solar micro-grid to power 500 houses — and electric vehicles

The City of Johannesburg's electricity utility — City Power — is nearing completion of a solar-powered microgrid pilot project in the Alexandra township.

Microgrids are local electricity networks for small communities. They are typically powered by renewable sources — like solar power — and can function independently from a larger electricity network.

 

[The_MAC]

Well done, this is a good story.

Let's hope the community safeguards THEIR infrastructure.

What needs to also happen ideally is each dwelling gets a smart meter, to manage consumption accordingly.

 

[G.A.S]

Yup. Election year.

 

[Sinbad]

Well done, this is a good story.

Let's hope the community safeguards THEIR infrastructure.

What needs to also happen ideally is each dwelling gets a smart meter, to manage consumption accordingly.

Good idea. Let's see if the implementation and maintenance match.

 

[The_MAC]

Yup. Election year.

The timing is suspicious, but the project is genuinely sound and noble.

 

[mypetcow]

EV taxis are the future

 

[G.A.S]

The timing is suspicious, but the project is genuinely sound and noble.

And hoping that the hardware is up to standard, and that they don't overload it. I assume it is grid-tied?

 

[RaptorSA]

Jirr Alexandra nogal.
That's ballsy.

Even the minister knows what's about to happen:

During the visit, Lesufi pleaded with community members to protect the infrastructure.
“If you allow this investment to be vandalised after so much work and resources have been put in, we will not come back and repair it,”

Let's hope the community sets alight the incoming vandals.
It's the right thing to do.

 

[Lupus]

Good idea, but storage? What happens when the sun goes down for those 500 houses?

 

[Gaz{M}]

Let's install R10m of highly valuable, resellable electronics in a township. What could go wrong?

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

Good idea, but storage? What happens when the sun goes down for those 500 houses?

When the sun goes down it hoes down for everyone - no exceptions.

 

[Rickster]

 

[porchrat]

Jirr Alexandra nogal.
That's ballsy.

Even the minister knows what's about to happen:

During the visit, Lesufi pleaded with community members to protect the infrastructure.
“If you allow this investment to be vandalised after so much work and resources have been put in, we will not come back and repair it,”

Let's hope the community sets alight the incoming vandals.
It's the right thing to do.

Honestly that's the right attitude. I wish Cape Town muni would do the same. Don't know how many times townships around here have burnt down bus stations and such only to see them repaired. If they burn down a clinic or a bus station or a school they clearly don't need it. It should not be replaced.

 

[mypetcow]

Good idea, but storage? What happens when the sun goes down for those 500 houses?

Then it’s back to Eskom and the joys the grid brings with it until the next day

 

[TheChamp]

Panyaza delivering services our people can touch and feel.

 

[The_MAC]

Good idea, but storage? What happens when the sun goes down for those 500 houses?

The 1MVA microgrid in Alexandra will provide electricity to about 500 households and is expected to be finished by the end of March 2024. The plant includes batteries to store energy for night-time use.

Doesn't say anything about capacity, but seems there is storage.

 

[Quicks]

Well done, this is a good story.

Let's hope the community safeguards THEIR infrastructure.

What needs to also happen ideally is each dwelling gets a smart meter, to manage consumption accordingly.

Any bets how long before it's vandalized or stolen. Seems people here in SA is very jealous of others and if they can't have something nice then no-one will have it nice. See it every day how things get destroyed for no apparent reason.

 

[Neuk_]

Pfft, we have a microgrid, as do at least three of our direct neighbours, my SIL has her own, my BIL as well and my inlaws also have their own micro grid. A lot of friends do as well, a lot of MyBB'ers too, everyone should get their own micro grid, everybody's doing it...

 

[porchrat]

Panyaza delivering services our people can touch and feel.

Unfortunately the people touching the services is what I'm worried about.

 

[The_MAC]

Any bets how long before it's vandalized or stolen. Seems people here in SA is very jealous of others and if they can't have something nice then no-one will have it nice. See it every day how things get destroyed for no apparent reason.

I hope we all bet "a few months" and then lose all our money

/fingers-crossed