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About

About Smart Grids

The Smart Grids Programme is one of the six flagships programmes within the South African National Energy Development Institution (SANEDI). smart5gridSmart Grids programme is focused on the introduction of various concepts of Smart Grids within the South African Electricity Distribution Industry (EDI).

SANEDI smart grids team’s mandate is to integrate and optimise distributed energy resources to achieve a more efficient and reliable grid, enable active participation of consumers with more environmental constraints.

The Smart Grid Programme addresses the Government’s Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) objectives of Energy Transformation and Service Delivery. With regards to Energy Transformation, technology innovation is used as an enabler for change. The introduction of Smart Grid technology is a key enabler for South Africa to achieve its energy mix. Without smart grids large scale integration is impossible. This allows South Africa to meet its climate change objectives at municipal level. With regards, to Service Delivery, Smart Grid Technology is enabling the use of integrated systems and processes in the municipal environment thus enabling efficiencies and effectiveness not seen before in the municipal environment.

Our Mission

Accelerating the implementation of energy research and development, improving energy efficiency and increasing the uptake of renewable energy to the benefit of South Africa.

Our Vision

An economically evolved technology-enabled electricity system that is intelligent, interactive, flexible and efficient. This system will enable South Africa’s energy use to be sustainable for future generations.

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Our Objectives
  • Provide a common vision for Smart Grids for South Africa.
  • Facilitate a Smart Grid knowledge sharing forum, for both the Electricity Supply Industry and relevant government departments.
  • Implement applied research pilots within municipalities to introduce various smart grid concept .

Services

WHAT IS SMART GRIDS

The effective deployment of technology in the electricity supply industry (ESI) is worldwide recognised as a key business enabler. The implementation of an appropriate technology contributes amongst others to improved customer service, improved business efficiency and improved business sustainability. The desirability of a smart grid project is steadily picking up attention in South Africa. As a result, the attractiveness of this technology is gaining much interest for the benefits it produces. Smart Grid is an essential transformative network that facilitates the efficient use of energy and the integration of renewable energy to meet the energy demand of various consumers.

What is a Smart Grid?

A definition that was articulated by the European Technology Platform Smart Grid (ETPSG) has been incorporated into the South African Smart Gird Initiative (SASGI) documentation framework for smart grids. They define a smart grid as follows:
“A smart grid is an electricity network that can intelligently integrate the actions of all users connected to it- generators, consumers and those that do both order to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure supplies (Potocnik, 2006) ”

Based on ETPSG definition, Smart Grid employs innovative products and services together with intelligent monitoring, control, communication, and self-healing technologies to:

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  • Better facilitate and manage the connection and operation of all sources of energy.
  • Give consumers more choice so they can help to optimise energy use;
  • Provide consumers with greater information and choice of supply;
  • Significantly reduce the environmental impact of the whole electricity supply system;
  • Deliver enhanced levels of reliability and security of supply.

The shift towards implementing a smart grid strategy in South Africa is intended to fast track the development of establishing an adequate electricity supply system or network for two basic reasons, namely the improvement and upgrade of the “business as usual” (BUA) grid and the outcome of substantial benefits that come with establishing a smart grid. For much that has been gathered, the value application of a smart grid is said to have benefits in the following key valuable areas:

Efficiency

by reducing the cost and improve the manner in which electricity is produced, distributed and consumed.

Economics

electricity is an essential commodity to the economy. Smart grids renders their deliverables on broader scale of benefits. In comparison to BUA grid, consumers will have the benefit of prices being kept down, the stimulation of job creation into the economy and positive returns on the gross domestic product (GDP).

Reliability

by lessening the occurrence of power cuts and the disadvantage of widespread load shedding. Contribute towards minimising the costs of interruption and the disturbances to the quality of power.

Security

a reductions in the threat probability such as manmade e.g. theft or technical loss e.g. negligence

Environmental

by integrating renewable into the grid will significantly improve the generating, transmission and consumption of electricity which will constitute a reduction in the emissions in comparison to BUA grid.

Safety

reduce injuries and loss of life relating to grid fatalities.

Projects

Projects

EU Donor Funded Smart Grids Programme

A flagship programme within SANEDI is the Smart Grids Programme, which focuses on research and deploys various smart grids concepts within the electricity distribution industry. Through the EU Donor Funded Smart Grids Programme, …

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SA-EU Dialogue Facility

The South African Smart Grid Initiative (SASGI) through the SA-EU Dialogue Facility has developed the Smart Grid 2030 Vision document for the South African Electricity Supply Industry. This Smart Grid 2030 Vision articulates the long-term aspirations and development …

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University of Pretoria Research collaboration

SANEDI got into partnership with the University of Pretoria and produced a number of research programmes, developed a number of short courses for municipal officials and developed the smart grids laboratory at the University of Pretoria and awarded students bursaries.

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The University of Pretoria in collaboration with SANEDI

Advanced Metering Infrastructure In Residential And Commercial Customer Base Project (1 Municipality)

The Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in Residential and Commercial Customer Base Project focuses on piloting the systems and processes to:

  • Dispense Free Basic Electricity (FBE) to a 1000 indigent customers.
  • Implement Inclining Block Tariff (IBT) with the selected indigent customers.
  • Implement a Time of Use (TOU) tariff in both customer base.
  • Load Limiting as a preferred method to manage demand as it allows households in a wider area to run essential loads as opposed to applying total blackouts in smaller areas on a rotational basis. The effectiveness of the method is also another way to mitigate widespread load shedding.

Advanced Asset Management Project (2 Municipalities)

The Advanced Asset Management (AAM) project originates from the DoE- Electricity Chief Directorate, which is intended to address the maintenance and refurbishment backlogs within the distribution grid of municipalities. The Smart Grids concept addresses maintenance and refurbishment in a very advanced way. The Advanced Asset Management (AAM) project complements the national efforts to address the maintenance and refurbishment backlogs within the distribution grid in South Africa. This challenges must be addressed in a smarter and more economical way than the business as usual approach.

Revenue Enhancement Project (5 Municipalities)

With the growing debt owed to Eskom by municipalities, the Programme places a strong emphasis on the revenue enhancement by using technology as an enabler for change. The present crisis Eskom finds itself in a combination of various issues but significant is the outstanding debts owed by municipalities and their inability to address the root cause and remain sustainable.

Mr. Teslim Yusuf
Mr. Teslim Yusuf
Acting General Manager: Smart Grids
Mr. Teslim Yusuf
Ms. Unarine Mudau
Project Manager: Smart Grids
Ms. Keorapetse Kgaswane
Ms. Keorapetse Kgaswane
Project Officer: Smart Grids
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