Hitachi Energy offers grid optimisation, network management solutions for loadshedding

2nd August 2022

     

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The current challenge in ensuring sufficient generation capacity in South Africa places the spotlight on innovative new technologies in the energy sector, comments Hitachi Energy Sub-Saharan Africa MD Malvin Naicker. 

The increase in the threshold for generation licence exemptions for embedded generation projects from 1 MW to 100 MW effectively opens the door for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and industrial and commercial end users to ramp up their power generation capacity to alleviate the electricity supply constraints that continue to affect the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

The focus on renewable energy and microgrid solutions with battery energy storage systems (BESS) are ideal to ensure stable and sustainable power by harnessing solar energy for a clean-energy future. Even though coal continues to play a dominant role in South Africa’s power mix, the country can still leverage the massive opportunity of distributed energy resources.

“What we see in South Africa is the wholesale transformation of the energy system, encompassing generation, transmission, storage, monitoring, and control. As renewables ultimately replace fossil fuels, power grids must remain resilient and become even more flexible to adapt to fast-changing demands,” says Naicker.

“The current shortfall in electricity supply not only calls for a dramatic increase in generation capacity but presents a major opportunity for a technology leader like Hitachi Energy to assist in optimising the national grid. In addition to our BESS solutions, we have significant expertise and experience in network management and control,” adds Naicker.

An example of the assistance that Hitachi Energy provides utilities is its involvement with Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (EEM) on the Madeira Island of Porto Santo. The addition of Hitachi Energy’s PowerStore BESS solution enables increased adoption of renewable energy while stabilising the system and reducing voltage fluctuation. Hitachi Energy ADMS Solution Manager Hennie Nel adds that it is applying a similar solution for a major metropolitan municipality in South Africa.

To effectively manage the large penetration of renewables required to make Porto Santo fossil fuel-free, EEM uses Network Manager, an integrated network operations platform that includes advanced distribution management system (ADMS) capabilities to extend grid control and optimisation. Network Manager provides the functionality for the safe and efficient operation of sub-transmission, medium- and low-voltage distribution networks on the island. This means EEM can efficiently manage its distribution assets and prepare for the changing world of distribution, improving reliability and reducing the impacts of outages.

Other practical examples of Hitachi Energy’s solutions in action include microgrids it commissioned in Longmeadow, Johannesburg, in 2016 and on Robben Island in 2017, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Systems that are grid connected and need to meet grid code requirements or are over 1 MW in size can become quite complex. Hitachi Energy has a range of solutions to address these types of applications, from the distribution substation all the way to the battery, says Hitachi Energy Head of Sales and Marketing: Grid Automation, Southern Africa Raynold Naik.

Asset Performance Management (APM) is key, especially as load-shedding represents abnormal operation of a power grid. Load-shedding introduces more potential risk of equipment failure because it is difficult to continuously monitor the health of assets and predict potential failures and reprioritise maintenance.

“It is key to not only provide a more effective maintenance management environment but also to improve the productivity of the technical teams carrying out the work, and Hitachi’s Lumada APM enables this,” says Hitachi Energy Sales Executive: Enterprise Software Francois Le Roux.

Power system control is critical to manage load-shedding.

“The reliability of power supply and making best use of available power sources is achieved by means of the layer of software control,” says Head of Sales and Marketing for Southern Africa Stuart Michie. Hitachi Energy’s BESS solutions are ideal to manage all the different elements of a distributed power generation system that combines solar, wind, batteries, other generation sources and the grid. Microgrid control and automation architecture is important to optimise such a system.

Hitachi Energy’s e-mesh™ digital ecosystem provides software management for distributed generation at both a local and fleet level, with built-in maintenance management for performance prediction a local and fleet level.

“Our mission is to ensure that the world’s energy system is sustainable, flexible, and secure. The world of energy continues to evolve, and therefore Hitachi Energy is developing its energy market reach and portfolio into new areas, expanding beyond the grid,” concludes Naicker.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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