Electricity + Control May 2019

ENERGY MANAGEMENT + ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Mini-grids accelerate electrification in Zambia

Isabelle Kocher, CEO of Engie, said: “We believe that universal access to electricity is possible in the foreseeable future, thanks to a smart combination of national grid extensions, mini-grids and solar home systems, depending on the characteristics of local en- ergy demand. Engie is already present along the whole spectrum of solutions with its subsidiaries PowerCorner and Fenix for off-grid solutions and utility-scale grid connected generation such as Kathu, our 100 MW concentrated solar power plant in South Africa. With- in a constantly changing world, our role is to make a cost-efficient zero-carbon transition possible for the benefit of the African popu- lation.” It is reported that today, more than 600 million people or 60% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa, do not have access to elec- tricity. Engie is already a leader in off-grid electrification in Africa, offering clean, safe and reliable decentralised electricity from its mi- ni-grids and solar home systems. Enquiries: Visit www.ENGIE.com

The inauguration of Engie’s first PowerCorner in the Zambian village of Chitandika was attended by the Zambian Minister of Energy, Matthew Nkhuwa, Engie’s leadership team and local stakeholders. Chitandika, in the east of Zambia, counts 378 households (about 1 500 inhabitants) who previously did not have access to electricity.With the installation of this first PowerCorner, Engie confirms its progress in off-grid renewable energy solutions to improve electricity access in Africa. The mini-grid provides energy to households and local busi- nesses and supports public services such as the Rural Health Cen- tre and two schools. It is intended to foster localised economic development by enabling other productive uses, such as powering water pumps for agriculture, providing electricity for carpentry and welding machines, and triggering business opportunities for entre- preneurs in the village. Engie has developed its own approach to mini-grids for the electrification of villages in Tanzania and Zambia, with a total of 13 mini-grids already in operation or construction. The company aims to develop 2 000 mini-grids in Africa by 2025, enabling 2.5 million people, entrepreneurs, SMEs and local businesses to access re- newable, reliable and cost-effective energy. As part of its decentralised energy developments, Engie is also expanding Fenix, its solar home system business. Since the launch of its operations in Zambia in October 2017, Engie Fenix has reached 70 000 customers in the country, supplying some 350 000 people with clean lighting and power. To date, Fenix has sold over 400 000 solar home systems across Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, the Ivory Coast and Benin, changing the lives of more than two million people.

The newly opened PowerCorner in Chitandika, Zambia.

Boosting local power generation technologies

ACTOM has signed a technology and local representation agreement with HAMON, the international manufacturer and suppli- er of environmental and power generation systems, to extend John Thompson’s of- ferings in these fields in the local market. A division of Actom, John Thompson focuses on providing boilers and environ- mental solutions to the power generation and industrial markets.The additional Ham- on equipment and technologies include electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) and flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems in the environmental field, plus heat-recovery steam generators (HRSGs) for application in the power generation field. The agreement, which took effect in Sep- tember 2018, gives John Thompson the ex- clusive right in the Southern African region to sell and support Hamon’s ESP systems, while its representation rights for the other two Hamon systems are non-exclusive. “The agreement strengthens John Thompson’s ability to cater to the South-

ern African market’s requirements in these fields, particularly to power utilities, the iron and steel manufacturing sector, mineral processing and petro-chemical industries in the region,” said Shardanand Seeth, the division’s Business Development Execu- tive. “It also provides for local manufacture of substantial portions of the equipment. With respect to ESPs, the housings for the internal components as well as the exter- nal support structures, ducting and other components will be manufactured by John Thompson. Additionally, JohnThompson is responsible for managing the execution of the projects and for ensuring that all appli- cable backup services are provided.” Eric Binard, Director EMEA and Mem- ber of the Hamon Group Executive Com- mittee, said, “We have in Actom an ex- cellent partner to promote the Hamon Research Cottrell technology in the African market. Actom has the right competence to manage and control local fabrication, to execute the site works as well as to en-

sure a continuous service close to the cus- tomer for maintenance, troubleshooting and upgrade. The expertise of both part- ners means customers now have a world class organisation fully dedicated to their area, matching the economic and financial requirements of the region.” Enquiries: JohnThompson Utility Boilers & Environmental Solutions, Tel. +27 (0)11 392 0900, email: info@johnthompson.co.za

A Hamon ESP system installed in a petrochemical plant.

30 Electricity + Control

MAY 2019