14 May 2013

The Department of Energy (DoE) will work towards finalising an Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) for South Africa during the current financial year, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said on Tuesday. Speaking at a media briefing prior to her Budget Vote speech for the 2013/14 financial year, the Minister noted that the IEP would set out the provision of all energy sources, and not only electricity, in the country up to 2050. Read more…

The agenda for the meeting and both presentations can be downloaded below:

Meeting Agenda

First Solar presentation: PV plant grid integration for SA

Eskom presentation: Connecting RE to the grid in SA

Connecting RE to the Grid In SA – now & into the future

African Utility Week Presentation – May 2013

The first presentation of the afternoon was given by Dr Wolsey Barnard - DoE Deputy Director General: Energy Programmes & Projects. Dr Barnard provided the audience with insights to ‘The future of SA’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme’.

Bruno Merven - Engineering consultant to the Energy Research Centre (ERC) - gave the second presentation and his topic was ‘ Towards a New Power Path’.  The presentation can be downloaded here: Merven Hughes Presentation

Thank you to all who attended the event.   And a special thank you to our event sponsors – SANEDI; RECORD and GIZ  - for their generous support.

The Romano Group recently commissioned a 35kWp grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generating system for process automation company, Endress + Hauser in Gauteng.

The project included the engineering, procurement and construction of the DC and AC sides of the system,  including the mounting structure, supply of PV modules and inverters, installation of all equipment, DC-wiring, AC-wiring, grid tie-in and system commissioning. The Canadian Solar-manufactured PV modules were installed onto free-standing, ballast-mounted structures, manufactured by Romano. “The electricity generated will be used by the client and will reduce their supply from Eskom by a projected 58 591 kWh in the first year“, said Romano’s head of solar, Bruce Conné.

“Endress + Hauser have become one of the first industrial companies in South Africa to install a solar PV system, and this is a strong indication that own-use PV is becoming a cost-effective alternative energy solution across all sectors of the market”, remarked Conné.

Most of the Solar PV systems provided by Romano are grid-tied systems, meaning that they are connected to either the client side or the utility side of the on-site electrical sub-station.  In the former case, the electricity generated is used on the site by the client.  In the latter case the electricity generated is exported to the national or municipal electricity grid.

According to Romano’s project manager for this project, Chris Lear, this was the first PV installation in South Africa using Power-One inverters. “Inverters are the most complex component of a PV system and Power-One have had their inverters certified to the South African grid code. To ensure that their entrance into the South African market was as successful as possible, Power-One flew in their technicians from Italy to work with Romano in commissioning the system, which was a great plus for the success of the project” added Lear.

“The project also qualifies for the Eskom IDM subsidy for renewable energy systems, which will certainly aid in reducing the pay-back period. PV systems are designed to have a serviceable life of at least 25 years, and typically achieve a pay-back of between 4 and 6 years” concluded Conné.

ABOUT Romano

Romano is a multi-skilled provider of a broad range of sustainable solutions, to clients who are typically large commercial, industrial or retail property owners and tenants spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

The company is one of SA’s most experienced Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System providers, operating throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and designs, supplies and installs high quality roof-top and ground-mounted Solar PV systems, all of which are delivered on-time at a competitive price. Its commercial options include: Outright Purchase (cash or financed) or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The company also manufactures solar mounting systems and car port structures, and is a reseller of PV modules, invertors, batteries and related hardware.

Romano’s factories, having combined areas totalling more than 10,000 m2, are situated in Cape Town and Johannesburg.  The company has approved installers representing it in all nine provinces of South Africa, as well as various implementation partners based at strategic locations spread across sub-Saharan Africa.

Romano is a wholly South African-owned company that was founded in 1952 and today employs more than 150 people.

PRESS CONTACTS

Romano: Lauren Black

+21 21 511 0960

lauren.black@romano.co.za

Light-weight mounting system: IBC AeroFix

The self-supporting mounting system IBC AeroFix was specially designed for all flat rooftops which do not tolerate additional ballast. The mounting system, developed in-house by IBC SOLAR, is aerodynamically optimised and has achieved great results in boundary-layer wind tunnel tests, which simulate realistic environmental conditions in accordance with the strict standards of the Wind Technology Society (Windtechnologischen Gesellschaft). From large flat rooftops to small garage rooftops, the flexible IBC AeroFix can be fitted on all available surfaces. Installers benefit from the quick and simple assembly, with components delivered ready for mounting. The system is available in three different designs and suitable for different PV system sizes, as well as different roof alignments. As no screw fittings are necessary for the rooftop, the roofing remains completely intact, so IBC AeroFix can also be fitted to rooftops with a concrete or foil seal. The flexible PV mounting system shows to its strengths when it comes to East-West installations. When mounting, the V-formed frame gives the installers easier access to the cables and ports at the back of the modules. IBC SOLAR showcases IBC AeroFix at its stand in hall B6 and will also offer advice and answer questions on the topic of mounting systems.

Domestic Consumption and Storage Solutions

IBC SOLAR has been selling lead-acid solar power storage units to private households since the end of 2011 and lithium-ion storage units since the end of 2012. They have been installed not only in Germany, but are also popular in Austria, Switzerland and Denmark – with increasing tendency. The compact battery storage system enables the use of domestic solar power installations, even when the sun is not shining. The house-owner controls his energy costs and can be sure that the majority of the solar energy his PV installation produces, rather than being fed into the public electricity network, is available for his personal use. With just one battery system, the self-sufficiency quota of the average family can increase by two thirds or more. At the fair family, IBC SOLAR will demonstrate how solar storage and production systems using intelligent controls and other components can provide more energy and control domestic energy consumption using forecast data.

Domestic solar energy consumption and self-sufficiency are important considerations for industrial and business installations, as well as farms: ever-increasing electricity costs make it more and more appealing to satisfy electricity requirements with a bespoke PV system. As these specific areas need solutions that meet their individual requirements, know-how, years of experience and reliable product quality is essential. As such, IBC SOLAR will also offer advice and answer questions on this topic at its stand in hall B6.

Premium Partners are the center of attention

IBC SOLAR sells its systems exclusively through its 600 Premium Partners in Germany and 30 partners abroad, including solar installers, roofers, electric and sanitation, heating & air conditioning companies. For that reason, the company will take advantage of the Intersolar event to strengthen contact with its existing Premium Partners and personally provide information about its new offers and services. At this year’s fair, IBC SOLAR will introduce its new Premium Partner network programme for Germany, which from 2014 onwards will improve cooperation and exchanges between IBC SOLAR and its partners, as well as between the partners themselves.

In order to support its Premium Partners during times that are demanding for the solar industry, IBC SOLAR’s new partner programme is based on the strengthening of medium-sized companies. The PV expert has developed a three-tier model for its German Premium Partners, through which they can better position themselves as regional competence leaders.

 Intersolar visitors can learn more about all product highlights and the new services of IBC SOLAR at stand 310, in hall B6, between the 19^th and 21^st June 2013.

To download the presentation, please click on the link below.

The future trends for Power & Utilities