Notwithstanding the expectation that South Africa’s electricity supply will stabilise in the next three to five years, original- equipment manufacturer (OEM) power-generation equipment developer Himoinsa Southern Africa believes that it can guarantee engineering and mining sector companies a reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply through its generators and associated power products.

Himoinsa Southern Africa business development director Matthew Bell explains that the costs for mining houses and/or processing factories during even a short period of load-shedding far outweighs the price of a generator set (genset).

Himoinsa’s generators provide companies and mining houses with secure and uninterrupted electricity, as well as cheaper electricity, during peak hours.

“For those peak hours during winter months, companies find it less expensive to generate electricity, regardless of their using diesel or other fuel sources.”

The company manufactures generators ranging from 3 kVA to 3.5 MVA. Additional filtration systems add to the durability of the generators, especially at dusty construction and mine sites and when poor fuel quality is a factor. The systems offer best-in-class service intervals and, thereby, drive down the total cost of ownership.

Bell notes that Himoinsa has invested in research and development regarding hybrid generation technology – the combinations between different technologies to produce power that often contain a renewable- energy component – as well as a second form of generation or storage, such as a diesel genset, fuel cell or battery storage system.

“We have worked on hybrid generators using our variable- speed engines to increase fuel efficiency and a master controller to effectively integrate different energy supplies. We have launched products that are well suited to hybrid applications.”

Hybrid power-solution gensets extend the life of the generators it is used with, by dividing the operating periods into eight hours of genset operation and 16 hours of battery power every 24 hours.

Further, Himoinsa offers medium and high-speed generators, adds Bell.

High-speed generators have rapid black-start capability when switched on and are flexible and easy to move around if/when the mine or processing facility expands. Himoinsa’s parent company, diesel engine and construction equipment manufacturer Yanmar, has launched its medium-speed generation for land-based power plants as part of its strategic alliance with Himoinsa in 2015. This offering was introduced to accommodate baseload or hybrid power generation projects that are ideally suited to this type of medium-speed generation technology.

The medium-voltage range offers superior fuel efficiency, as well as operating and service maintenance cost savings, and they also have a longer life span.

This range is designed for more prime applications where the generators are used from 12 to 16 hours a day, along with a hybrid renewable component such as solar power, explains Bell.

“This type of configuration is a cost effective and reliable solution in critical sectors such as mining, hospitals, refineries, petrochemicals plants and the steel industry.”

Further, Himoinsa Southern Africa is fully supported by its international OEM warranty, along with support from its OEM partners, for the products used in the generators. All Himoinsa Southern Africa technicians and engineers are trained by Himoinsa head office to provide technical support and after-sales services for clients in Southern Africa.