Working towards a just energy transition

The evolution of power generation, transmission and distribution has been a topic of major debate in recent years, spurred on by innovative developments that include smart technology. In these interesting times, iX engineers is actively engaging to provide designs and solutions for the market. By Hans Karemaker* and Frank Major**

Establishing a highly functional and strategy-adopted transmission and distribution grid network is the crucial starting post for a just energy transition (JET). This will enable the progressive shift away from a predominantly coalbased fossil fuel generation fleet to a carbon-neutral generation system based on renewable energy.

South Africa’s transmission network was designed to transfer power mainly centralised within the heart of Mpumalanga to the rest of the country. This existing electrical infrastructure network needs to be leveraged for an energy transition by establishing new renewable generation capacity, energy storage and energyintensive processes. Examples include hydrolysers for green hydrogen production or agro-processing facilities on or around the retiring Eskom coal-fired power stations. This could possibly be combined with agrivoltaics (also referred to as agriPV) to provide dual land-use opportunities, while simultaneously addressing the foodenergy-water nexus.

Additionally, the transmission infrastructure needs to be strengthened to areas rich in renewable energy generation capacity and land availability, such as the Northern Cape for solar energy. Apart from higher transmission line capacities, energy storage can play a pivotal role in helping to overcome grid infrastructure bottlenecks.

A smart grid and e-mobility

The future grid will be a smart one with a more dynamic character. With a costreflective real-time tariff system, the demand will follow the generation curve and more energy will be consumed during the daytime periods, where cheaper solar power is available. The generation will be more decentralised and scattered all over the country – moving away from a central, unidirectional grid.

Driven by the move to a net-zero-carbon global economy, apart from the hard-toabate industries, much of the industrial and transport sectors will be electrified, adding significant new electricity demand to our current system. Despite the challenge of meeting this new demand, the move to e-mobility can play an enormous role in grid stabilisation by leveraging the high distributed battery storage capacity of electric vehicles in combination with smart chargers and vehicle-to-grid technology.

Highly distributed and on-site generation can add significant capacity to the grid, without the need of additional grid strengthening. This decentralised generation approach will also contribute to a JET, empowering many regions to generate energy, job opportunities and related revenues.

Independent power producers

The expected amendment of Schedule 2 of the Energy Regulation Act (No. 4 of 2006) to increase the NERSA licensing threshold for embedded generation projects from 1 MW to 100 MW, as announced by President Ramaphosa on 10 June 2021, will open significant opportunities for private and municipal self-generation initiatives.

In connection with this shift to a decentralised generation system, an important conversation will be around municipal revenue models and wheeling through distribution and transmission networks. Smart technologies and artificial intelligence will play a key role to ensure a stable future smart grid that will be fully powered by intermittent renewable energy sources.

*Executive Director & Executive Project Packaging, iX engineers **Solutions Lead: Sustainable Energy, iX engineers