Sparks Electrical News February 2019

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

15

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PUTS CASH BACK IN YOUR POCKET

UGANDAN SOLAR POWER PARK SET TO CONNECT TO THE GRID nesses because it is expensive or not necessary. “It is this kind of thinking that delays the implementation of efficient energy solutions across the board – from home to skyscraper to factory,” explains Barry Bredenkamp, General Manager Energy Efficiency for the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI). “Load-shedding focussed South Africans on the need to monitor their electricity consumption and plan efficient usage and it appears that some people have gone back to the idea of ‘I’ll just pay’. Recently however, load-shedding threats have E nergy efficiency is often seen as a ‘nice to have’ or only for ‘big corporations’ but not applicable at home or small to medium busi-

energy efficiency and what these mean in terms of savings on the monthly budget and saving the planet,” concludes Bredenkamp. The South African government established SANEDI to direct, monitor and conduct applied energy R&D, demonstration and deployment, as well as to undertake specific measures to promote the uptake of green energy and energy efficiency in South Africa. Its mission is to use applied and energy research and resource efficiency to develop innovative, integrated solutions that will catalyse growth and prosperity to meet its vision of sustainable living for growth and prosperity in Africa.

Africa – climate change is a reality today, not some time in the distant future. Every kilogram of coal burnt releases approximately one kilogram of carbon dioxide. “Most appliances and machinery come with an energy rating, from A (the most efficient) to G (least efficient). There is a corresponding price difference but what both consumers and procurement departments fail to take into account, is that the energy saved over the life of the item will outweigh the higher initial cost – it is about life cycle costs and not just the initial purchase price. “Now is the time for everyone to consider mixed energy resources, at home and work,

resurfaced and rolling blackouts are an ever- increasing possibility, whilst the price of electricity is likely going to continue to be increased at double-digit figures for at least the next five years, as Eskom struggles to recoup its losses. “South Africa relies on coal for about 90% of its energy input, resulting in a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions. This pollution, concentrated around the power stations mainly in the Mpumalanga area, is not caused by the power stations alone but by all South Africans, as they are generating the pollution through their excessive use of coal-based energy. These emissions contribute to the changing climate patterns we are now seeing develop in South

Enquiries: www.sacccs.org.za.

U K-based energy solutions provider, Great Lakes Africa Energy (GLAE), has completed the development of the 24 mW Kabulasoke solar power park in Uganda. According to the Capi- tal FM and ESI, GLAE has been acting as the lead financial and technical investor and forms part of the consortium comprising Uganda’s Xsabo Power Lim- ited. The solar power project has been developed in conjunction with the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited. GLAE director Michael Kearns, revealed that the commercial operations start date (COD) for the project, was achieved on Sunday, 30 December 2018. “With the achievement of a COD milestone, we are now ready to undertake the ceremonial commissioning of the largest solar power park in East and Central Africa at the earliest opportunity,” said Kearns. “The grid switching of the Kabulasoke project marks yet another milestone for GLAE alongside our other projects in Ndola Zambia and Rovuma in Mozambique, where we are providing energy solutions to power national development ideals,” Kearns added. Once officially commissioned, the Kabulasoke project, which is said to be already connected to the national grid, will serve a population of more than five million in rural Uganda. “At Great Lakes Africa Energy we are proud to be associated with the Government of Uganda, Xsabo Power Limited and the consortium partners for making this project possible,” Kearns said. He added: “We are passionate about our mission to power the Great Lakes and Southern Africa region including Uganda, by developing and managing state-of-the-art power projects generated from the most efficient local sources of energy.” The Kabulasoke solar power park, features Tier 1 poly crystalline solar modules with an efficiency of 17.6 percent which is now highest in the Industry ensuring a high energy yield. The engineering design for the project, also integrates a state of the art invertor plus power transformer solution to minimize energy losses. The GLAE Power plant design ensures less than 0.5 percent energy losses for the plant. The on-schedule completion of the 24 mW Kabulasoke Solar Power Park, comes hot on the heels of the firm’s recent partnership with the Government of Mozambique.

Enquiries: www.glaenergy.com

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

FEBRUARY 2019