Ellis Park could reduce electricity consumption by up to 40%

1st November 2013

By: Leandi Kolver

Creamer Media Deputy Editor

  

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Ellis Park stadium, which has an electricity bill of just below R400 000 a month, could reduce its electricity consumption by up to 40% by implementing energy efficiency measures, German consulting firm Transsolar Energietechnik CE Professor Volkmar Bleicher said on Thursday.

Improving the energy efficiency of the stadium would decrease its peak energy use from 1 886 kW to 1 124 kW and demand from 1 326 MWh/y to 829 MWh/y, which amounted to reductions of 40% and 37% respectively, he added. 

Bleicher was visiting the stadium to carry out an energy audit as part of a project supported by the South Africa German Energy Programme (Sagen), a partnership between the German Development Corporation (GIZ), South Africa’s Department of Energy and the South African National Energy Development Institute.

“Ellis Park is an energy user with unusual peaks and troughs, but has the opportunity to learn from international experts and create a world-class stadium power supply and energy efficiency regime. It may be an ageing stadium but it potentially has a long and exciting life ahead as an energy efficient venue for a new generation of fans.” GIZ/Sagen energy efficiency advisor Christian Borchard said.

The audit covered the entire Ellis Park precinct, including the rugby stadium and adjacent swimming pool, athletics stadium and indoor arena, and involved aspects such as the energy consumption of floodlights, pumps, hot water, audio and electrical appliances in the hospitality suites and restaurants.

The stadium’s 244 floodlights contributed 30% of its current power consumption, while chiller plants and advertising screens consumed another 15% each.

Office blocks and stadium information technology systems consumed 10% of the stadium’s power and the 344 private suites another 5%. Two large boilers provided hot water for up to 180 people on match days, while more power was needed to pump out rainwater and overflow from the Jukskei river, which rises beneath the stadium.

Bleicher said while various areas in which energy savings could be achieved had been brought to his attention, the main areas that needed urgent attention were the current lighting installation and fridges.

“The stadium has lights installed with a combined capacity of more than 700 kW, with an energy demand of more than 550 MWh. By replacing these lights with light-emitting diode lighting, the installed capacity could be reduced to 180 kW and the energy demand to 270 MWh. Therefore, the demand can be reduced by 50%,” he explained.

Further, the stadium also has up to 500 fridges with a combined peak use of up to 280 kW and demand of up to 350 MWh that could be reduced by 50%, or even 80%, if high-efficiency fridges were used.

Bleicher pointed out that, currently, one fridge had an energy demand of 4 030 kWh/y, which was the same as the yearly demand of two average households in Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, the stadium’s ice machines were also currently positioned in direct sunlight without any shading or sufficient insulation, he said, adding that Transsolar suggested either moving the machines or installing shading mechanisms.

Bleicher added that the stadium’s boiler piping was also not insulated, which meant that about 50 W of electricity was being lost a month.

Further, Transsolar was recommending the installation of photovoltaic panels on the northern roof of the stadium.

“If 1 600 m2 of panels were installed, 440 MWh/y of electricity could be produced,” he said.

Stadium management estimated that up to 50% of total lighting demand could be met by solar and that there was also an opportunity to make better use of gas.

Edited by Tracy Hancock
Creamer Media Contributing Editor

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