French energy company Areva Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Automation has identified South Africa as an important country for the company's growth in upcoming years, following the recent completion of Eskom's new National Control Centre in collaboration with Areva T&D's local partner Alstom South Africa.

Sales vice-president for worldwide operations Anil Chaudhry said on Friday that the company would be analysing the overall potential for the automation business in the country.

Chaudhry noted that Areva T&D Automation would study the level of automation that was present, in terms of electricity distribution, and what more could be done. He explained that there was definitely a "big requirement" for automation of medium and low-voltage stations, coupled with demand-side management relating to the electricity distribution network.

Chaudhry added that the company would be working with Alstom South Africa to gain a better understanding of the needs of Eskom and the municipalities.

Areva T&D Automation would also be capable of providing smart-metering and smart-grid solutions to the country - a measure recommended by the Department of Minerals and Energy as part of the National Response Plan to curb energy usage by residential consumers.

Chaudhry explained that the smart-meters presented operators with a futuristic view of the type of scenario that might occur on the network and gave them the opportunity to make decisions in advance to avoid problems. He noted that the company would be discussing the potential of Eskom adopting this product with the utility.

Areva T&D Automation's capabilities would not be focused on the production of the meter, this would be contracted out on a project-to-project basis. Chaudhry explained that what was important to the company was the "layer above the meter" and this involved collecting and analysing the data collected from the unit and using it to make decisions regarding the management of the distribution networks.

Chaudhry commented that the focus was on providing the correct data at the right time to the operators either in the transmission or distribution control centres, thus enabling them to manage and balance the load with the electricity that was available.

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