10 the state of science in south africa
E N G I N E E R I N G
1980s, and mainly operated to control volt- capacity into the system; this represents
ages and improve stability of the power a huge financial and technical challenge.
system. The ultimate goal is to double generation
capacity to about 80 000 MW by 2026. The
One of the major achievements in the coun-
challenge is to increase this capacity in an
try has been in the distribution of electri-
environmentally sustainable manner. South
city through the electrification programme.
Africa is a signatory to the United Nations
Since its inception in 1991, a total of around
Framework Convention on Climate Change
3.6 million homes have been electrified.
(UNFCCC) and its implementing mecha-
Funding is currently made available for new
nism, the Kyoto Protocol. As a developing
connections by government. It is expected
country, there are no binding obligations
that the average cost of infrastructure de-
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at
velopment and the cost per connection will
the moment. However, there is increasing
increase as communities in more remote
in-country commitment to reduce green-
rural areas are electrified. In addition, tech-
house gas emissions and for development
nical specifications for network design have
to be carried out in a sustainable manner
been enhanced to better accommodate
that will result in benefit to the economy,
future growth in electricity demand and
society and the environment. This has led
to improve the quality and reliability of the
to a serious drive to seek environmentally
electricity supply in these areas. Govern-
friendly ways of generating electricity,
ment aims to achieve universal access to
including, among others, clean coal tech-
electricity by 2012.
nologies, integrated gasification combined
cycle (IGCC), nuclear generation and renew-
While significant advances have been made
able energy sources.
in the field of electrical engineering, there
have also been serious technical and socio-
There are many challenges in respect of
economic challenges in each of the afore- transmission as generation pools exist and
mentioned components of the electrical are still being created far from load centres
engineering value chain. in the country, implying a need for long-
distance transmission. High voltage DC
In terms of generation, the South African technology is being increasingly consid-
power grid is currently operating with a ered as possible technology for long-dis-
much-diminished reserve margin because tance, bulk-power transmission, as quickly
growth in electricity demand has out- diminishing power transfer returns are
stripped the investment in new generation now being realised from further expansion
plant. This has made the management of of the grid using 765kV AC technology.
the plant very complex, as a reserve margin Considerations for deploying of AC voltag-
allows a window to do maintenance and es above 765kV are also being considered,
provides a cushion against unplanned out- as is the application of FACTS (Flexible
age. Over the next five years, Eskom plans Alternating Current Transmission System)
to add more than 16 000 MW of generation devices.
268
TWAS book_Chap10-11.indd 268 2009/10/06 12:06:09 PM
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