Electricity and Control June 2024

TRANSFORMERS, SUBSTATIONS + CABLES : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

How do we manage an overburdened grid?

Taru Madangombe, Vice President: Power and Grid for Middle East and Africa at Schneider Electric says Electricity 4.0 provides some answers. The energy transition and innovation are inherently interdependent. If we look at the history of the energy ecosystem, initial developments around electricity focused on the supply side of the value chain. Over time, this changed, evolving from the work of pioneers such as Alessandro Volta and Michael Faraday in the 1800s (Electricity 1.0) to mass electricity by the end of the 19th century (Electricity 2.0) when electricity production was driven by demand. The development of the first practical solar cells came in the 1950s, and with it, the first digital technologies (Electricity 3.0). Today, in the context of the energy transition, we need to focus equally on supply and demand to reach our sustainability targets. Electricity 4.0, which can be seen as representing the convergence of electrical and digital technologies at scale, empowers electricity systems to become greener and smarter. Furthermore, it allows for distributed energy resources (DERs) that support reliable power provision, and grid infrastructure measures to avoid energy wastage. Our current energy landscape needs to be driven by the fundamentals of Electricity 4.0. In South Africa, DERs are being added to businesses and households almost daily. According to Eskom, calculations show that rooftop solar’s contribution increased from 2 265 MW in July 2022 to 5 204 MW in December 2023. A significant shift. Readying the grid Renewable energy generation technologies place additional strain on the distribution network as it was originally designed for one-way electricity flow. As more consumers become prosumers, generating and potentially selling electricity back to the grid, the challenges of managing low voltage networks (LV) become more complex.

locally from Comtest – is supplied complete and ready for use with a transmitter, receiver, test lead kit, batteries and additional fuses, all in a mobile, protective duffle bag. The UAT-620 kit also includes a signal clamp for transmitting a signal when it is not possible to make electrical contact with the cable to be traced. For applications where ground fault locating is required, the UAT-600 transmitter can be used in combination with the optional A-frame accessory. South Africa’s grid, like those of most utilities globally, was conventionally designed to transport electricity from core generating regions like Mpumalanga, to the rest of the country, including the more highly industrialised areas such as Gauteng, to drive economic activities. Hence the long high voltage (HV) power lines and infrastructure that traverse the country to reach cities and towns and the medium voltage (MV) and LV networks which support the distribution of electricity to points of consumption. The grid was not designed to transport electricity in the opposite direction. LV infrastructure can be constrained by this excess electricity capacity generated on site. Although MV and HV infrastructures have seen some evolution with the introduction of advanced distri bution management systems (ADMS) managing large inflows of utility-scale renewable energy systems at distribution level, we now require similar technologies to manage the complexities at low voltage levels. With out adequate infrastructure and management systems in place, the stability and reliability of the grid could be compromised. Electricity 4.0 can alleviate some strain Electricity 4.0 leverages technology to enable sustain ability and improved grid operations. Key components include: Renewable energy integration – facilitating the seam less integration of DERs such as solar and wind Smart grid technologies – implementing advanced grid technologies that enable smoother system operation, higher energy efficiency, and improved management of generation and storage systems Decarbonisation strategies – embracing a lifecycle approach to digitise and decarbonise the energy sector, support sustainability goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity 4.0 represents an overarching approach to modernising the energy sector, balancing supply and demand, and offers some solutions to an overextended grid by enabling smarter management of various voltage iterations. □

Taru Madangombe, Schneider Electric.

Cable locator for failsafe cable fault diagnostics

Accidentally hitting a power cable during a project can lead to costly repairs and create seriously hazardous safety situations.

Digging in the wrong place can also lead to significant and unnec essary delays, as well as

run-on costs for a project. The Amprobe UAT-600 series cable locating kit – available

The Amprobe UAT-600 series cable locating kit is available locally from Comtest.

For more information visit: www.comtest.co.za

26 Electricity + Control JUNE 2024