South Africa's power supplier, Eskom, has warned that the country could experience 101 days of load shedding this winter. Eskom introduced electricity blackouts in 2007 when they announced that they couldn't supply electricity to the whole country at the same time. Since then, South Africa has experienced rolling blackouts on and off, affecting production and business operations for all industries in the country for almost 15 years.
In 2019, load shedding cost the economy between R60 billion and R120 billion. It's estimated that the overall economic impact of rolling blackouts over the last 10 years is R338 billion. Businesses can't afford to depend on an unreliable power system, and many business owners have found other ways to power their operations. If now is the time for you to invest in alternative power solutions, consider these options for your business.
Generator
A generator is a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical power. Every generator has an engine that creates the mechanical energy and an alternator that converts the energy into an electrical output. While generators are convenient as you can quickly switch to the power source when load shedding starts, they need fuel to generate electricity. Whether the generator uses petrol or diesel, fuel is becoming expensive in South Africa, so it could become costly to run a generator.
Pros
- The switch from grid power to generator is seamless
- Ideal for days when load shedding is announced unexpectedly
Cons
- Generators can be expensive
- They produce a large amount of noise
- You need fuel to operate the machine, and petrol and diesel prices are rising
Battery-based inverter
An inverter is a device that converts direct current (DC) from a battery into alternating current (AC), so common appliances can use it. The battery is charged with electricity, and the energy stored is used when the power goes out. An inverter is ideal for load shedding as rolling blackouts don't happen all the time, so there's time for the inverter to be charged before the power goes out and again when it comes back on.
Pros
- Device starts working as soon as load shedding starts
- No need to charge the battery manually
Cons
- Battery may not have time to recharge if load shedding is longer than expected
- Can be expensive, depending on how many appliances or devices you need to power
Solar power
Solar power is created by converting sunlight into usable energy. Besides the cost of purchasing and installing solar panels, the energy produced by the sun is free and available in abundance, as most areas in the country experience more than 2,500 hours of sunshine per year. Unlike the other alternative power solutions we've shared, you can go off the grid with solar power, and load shedding will no longer be an issue for your business.
Pros
- You can go off the grid with solar power
- Solar energy is environmentally friendly
- Sunlight is limitless
Cons
- Expensive to install solar panels
- Can’t control the weather
What to consider before investing in alternative power solutions
Before choosing an alternative power solution, calculate the cost to invest in these power solutions and how much you’ll need to spend to operate each one. If you don’t have the capital to invest in a generator or solar power, you could look into the financing options offered by local energy suppliers. You could hire a generator, or if you're interested in solar power, you could opt for a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), where the supplier installs and maintains the solar panels. Your business then pays the supplier to use the equipment.
Think about the future of load shedding when making your decision. Eskom's chief executive, Andre de Ruyter, has said that the country could expect another five years of load shedding. Determine how practical it is for your business to work around load shedding for at least the next five years and how it will affect your business's productivity and finances in the long run.
Consider maintenance when choosing an alternative power solution. No matter which solution you opt for, regular maintenance will be essential as it keeps equipment in good condition. Ensure that the supplier you choose uses an efficient system like Asset Management Software to schedule and manage maintenance jobs. Asset maintenance prevents unexpected breakdowns, which is crucial if you want to power your business operations during load shedding with the alternative power solution.
Here is What You Need to Know About the Load Shedding App.
There are many apps for load shedding that stores the load shedding data in the application.
With electricity, the people of the country suffering doesn't end. Still a little hot reading the lakes three-four or somewhere more load shedding. So power outages, the country's a casual event as well as a known.
At solve the problem, the electricity department, more 8 to new power plant construction work has started. These power plants are built if the country's electricity production more 1 thousand 799 MW will increase.
New received power center of the being - Noapara 100 MW power plant, Gazipur, the 300 MW power plant, thousand in 200 MW power plant, Ghorashal the Coddy 365 MW integrated power plant, Fenchuganj to 200 MW integrated power plant, of the comlete 54 MW power plant, seedling, the 335 MW integrated power plant(gas turbine)and seedling 225 MW Integrated Power Plant (second unit).
In Chittagong established and under construction power plant from the current year towards the end of 267 MW, and in 2019, nearly a thousand 200 MW electricity to the National Grid associated with expected doing BPDB authority.
Direction at Rural Power Company Limited (rpcl) nationwide 2 thousand 830 MW electricity production, the plan has taken. In Chittagong, two from the center can be producing two thousand 600 MW power. Also Boalkhali at 800 MW and estate, Mirsharai most one thousand 800 MW power plant initiative has been taken.
Sources said next November, the strips of sole 3 number of units from 108 MW, collagen Union Sikalbaha power plant to 105 MW and Dec power Chittagong Ltd. from 54 MW electricity to the National Grid, will be associated.
2019 national grid would add to the sole 2 number of units from 108, ticklah's Karnaphuli power from 110, anima energy from 116 and united power from 360 MW.
In this context, the Power Development Board (BPDB)-director Saiful Hasan Chowdhury said the country now electricity production capacity of 20 thousand 300 MW. A few more power stations work in progress. These centers production when 2019, in more 1 thousand 200 MW electricity production is increasing.
Renewable energy sources have Magnifier Engine Review generated a lot of increased interest recently due to environmental concerns about global climate change, Indoor air pollution, air quality.
Heavy investment in intensive research and development has brought about improved efficiency, reliability, better quality and has attracted massive investment in this industry.
This has resulted in wide spread massive production and hence reduction in the cost of the technologies for renewable energy.Developing countries like Uganda and indeed many African and other countries, the National electric grid coverage is less than 5%.
The areas covered are always having load shedding because power generated falls way below current and growing national demand.
In this case electricity can go off, without warning, for hours, days and some times months together.
A large part of our countries more >95% do not have or even hope to ever enjoying the luxury of electricity from the national grid.
