Omron South Africa has recently completed its first photovoltaic installation using a 10 kW grid-tied 400 V inverter. The solar PV panel is roof mounted on a light weight aluminium structure designed to eliminate corrosion. DC power is fed into the panel mounted inverter, DC supply range is 225 to 850 V, with a nominal input voltage of 585 V. The AC power output is connected to the user’s 400 V 3-phase supply. The system has Modbus communication on board allowing the values of voltage, current and power to be monitored and logged.
With Eskom requiring a 10% energy saving across the board, this is a simple method that can be used to reduce consumption while still being able to supply sufficient power to the facility. One advantage of grid-tied inverters is that no alterations to the current electrical infrastructure are required, which means that there is no power downtime during installation. The inverter has a maximum efficiency of 97,5% and only consumes 1,5 W during dark times. This creates an ROI of just 5 years at the current prices of PV panels.
The trend across Europe, where the majority of Omron’s PV inverters are installed, is that utilities buy back excess power that is generated by grid-tied inverters, thus using the grid as a storage system, which shortens the ROI even further.
Power supply with scalability optimised Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric has introduced the Easy UPS 3-Phase Modular to the South African marketplace. This robust uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is designed to protect critical loads while offering third-party verified Live Swap functionality.
Read more...Prioritising arc flash safety Comtest
Electrical Power & Protection
Comtest has developed a range of thermal imaging and wireless testing tools from Fluke, designed to ensure safety is the top priority for engineers working in potentially dangerous arc flash zones.
Read more...Hot Dip Galvanizers Association shines new light on renewable energy
Electrical Power & Protection
The Hot Dip Galvanizers Association of Southern Africa plays an important role in supporting the energy value chain – which spans clean, renewable and green energy – as it powers towards key sustainability targets.
Read more...ACTOM supplies high-voltage equipment to wind farm project ACTOM Electrical Machines
Electrical Power & Protection
ACTOM High Voltage Equipment is currently in the process of manufacturing 400 kV and 132 kV high-voltage primary equipment for the Ummbila Emoyeni wind farm project in Mpumalanga.
Read more...Energy measurement module for BL20 I/O System Turck Banner Southern Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Turck’s BL20 energy measurement module enables precise monitoring of the energy consumption of single- or three-phase systems.
Read more...Distributed energy resource management systems: a grid symphony Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
To listen to a symphony is one of the world’s great gifts. A conductor must ensure that instruments play beautifully as a whole and are kind to the ear and uplifting to the spirit yet shine in their individuality. The same can be said of a DERMS, which must effectively manage diverse energy sources to avoid compromising the grid’s integrity.
Read more...Focus on energy sector infrastructure development can drive economic growth
Electrical Power & Protection
Post-election periods in South Africa often see a renewed focus on infrastructure development, with a specific emphasis on directing investments towards the energy sector. This strategic approach aims to accelerate economic growth, address energy challenges, and ultimately uplift the overall standard of living for the populace.
Read more...Turning the continent into a global leader for green fuel
Electrical Power & Protection
Africa is at a turning point, with the potential to shift from being a supplier of raw materials to becoming a leader in advanced manufacturing, particularly in the growing green hydrogen market. For this transformation to happen, African countries must work together, combining their resources and talents to build a strong local economy.
Read more...Smart metering for utility management and sustainability
Electrical Power & Protection
Theodore Paraskevakos, a Greek-American inventor and businessman, developed the first smart meters in 1972 while collaborating with Boeing. Since then, smart meters have evolved significantly.
printer friendly version