Sparks Electrical News December 2019

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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ACDC PARTNERS WITH FIDELITY ADT

ACDC Express Fourways recently hosted a cus- tomer day at its premises in Johannesburg. The main objective of the customer day was to launch the ACDC Dynamics security and react alarms Fidelity ADT Security campaign whereby any of the company’s staff are able to offer clients a free rented Fidelity ADT alarm system, or a rent-to-own CCTV solution. Established in 1984, ACDC Dynamics is a lead- ing manufacturer, importer and distributor of quality products in the electrical, electronics, pumps and tools industries. Employing over 700 staff, ACDC Dynamics has its Head Office in Edenvale, Johan- nesburg with branches in Germiston, Cape Town, Pinetown and Riverhorse in KZN. T he South African Institute of Electrical Engi- neers (SAIEE) has welcomed the new Inte- grated Resource Plan (IRP), and in particular, the energy master plan’s positive attitude towards growing renewable energy and storage in South Af- rica. The 2019 IRP was gazetted by government in October this year. SAIEE CEO, Sicelo Xulu said that the new IRP was long overdue as the last one was published almost a decade ago in 2010. “Since then several new technologies have been introduced, not to mention environmental developments, which re- quire an updated plan that considers all the factors needed to achieve a sustainable energy future for South Africa,” Xulu said. The SAIEE believes that the integration and strengthening of renewable energy is vital for energy planning in the country. “Considering the declining costs of solar and wind generation, we are pleased to note the plan allows for a significant increase in the renewable energy mix, from 6% to above 25% by 2030. The SAIEE is also pleased that the allowance for energy storage has been increased by 66% to 5000 MW as we requested,” Xulu said. It is also good to see the accommodation of these new resources on a distributed or ‘small scale embedded generation’ basis, in a way that will unlock new opportunities within the municipal distribution industry. “This will assist in limiting renewable energy curtailment and technical losses while managing increased variability in the grid. Alternative energy storage costs, such as batteries, are also declining and making their business case easier,” he added. Xulu said the SAIEE is confident that its other recommendations to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will also be considered favourably. SAIEE’s proposal includes moving towards apubliclyavailableopen-sourceITplatformforhousing the energy model, instituting a scientific approach to decommissioning of assets, and commissioning a study to determine the technically responsible limit for renewables, before implementation by the Department. “We affirm our support for a safe, green and lower-cost mix of energy technologies; however, we want to caution that the primary purpose of a grid, which is to provide a safe and reliable access to energy supply, must be maintained through careful engineering studies,” Xulu said. As part of the SAIEE’s commitment to South Africa’s energy future,the Institute hosted its inaugural SAIEE National Conference in November. The conference looked ahead at how we can ‘Engineer an Africa for the Future’ by bringing together local and international thought-leaders to brainstorm critical issues; namely, building a sustainable energy future using a mix of technologies, including existing fossil fuelled plant, gas, renewable energy and storage, and nuclear, all in conjunction with the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. IRP’S FAVOURABLE OUTLOOK ON RENEWABLE ENERGY Enquiries: www.acdc.co.za

Enquiries: www.saiee-conference.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

DECEMBER 2019