RENEWABLE ENERGY & ELECTRIFICATION
On the path to a greener future for Africa
A 2.7 MVA 690 V to 33 kV step-up pad-mounted transformer installed at Kangnas Wind Farm in the Northern Cape
Responding to growth in the renewable energy sector, Actom continues to reposition its offering in the electromechanical field to meet current and future technological demand.
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hen looking at the traditional coal requirements from a coal power station and engineering perspective, it was clear that Actom had to make a distinct shift by enhancing existing designs, looking towards new technologies, and designing new product lines,” says Mervyn Naidoo, CEO, Actom. As a result, Actom has been positioning itself to align with Eskom’s ‘Just Energy Transition’ (JET) plan, which is to decommission 10 coal-fired power stations by 2040 and an additional three by 2050. The JET plan presents an opportunity to repurpose these sites into agrivoltaics, photovoltaics and gas generation, and migrate towards a cleaner and greener energy future while creating new job opportunities for those displaced by the replacement of coal technologies.
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IMIESA March 2022
Actom High Voltage Equipment assembly staff doing final checks on highvoltage transformers to be installed in solar and wind farm substations
“Traditionally, Actom supplied switchgear, protection technologies, control schemes and electric motors. What is transpiring now with renewable energy projects is that engineering procurement contractors (EPCs) are requiring an integrated offering,” Naidoo explains. This dynamic shift into the renewable energy space has triggered a whole new migration in Actom towards evolution engineering in new design technologies and embracing a new approach in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Examples include Actom’s development of new software, systems and technologies to enable the remote monitoring of wind and solar plants scattered across the countr y from an operations and maintenance perspective.
Wind power currently tops the list as the most promising renewable energy source in South Africa. According to Christian Barret, divisional CEO: Actom Energy, “When Round 7 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme is fully implemented, we are estimating that we could have approximately 70 wind farms operational, which will host 2 500 turbines.” “By integrating Actom’s locally manufactured electrical equipment, repairs and services – together with its energy solution, frontend engineering and project management capabilities – we can provide customised solutions for most of our clients’ wind farm requirements,” Barret continues. Each wind farm presents two distinct areas of
