Rapid, worldwide implementation of electrical power generation from renewable sources, often located at great distances from urban and industrial consumers, has led to the need for new, low loss, long-distance transmission systems. A result of this trend is that development of DC transmission technologies is progressing rapidly. As a part of this, gas-insulated DC transmission lines (DC GIL) and gas-insulated DC substations stations (DC GIS) are of particular interest due to their space-saving advantages. Testing of these systems poses unique challenges and forms the basis for a reliable service performance. Read More

The impact of COVID-19 on the operations of the National Energy Market (NEM) has been largely managed to date. This is thanks to the prompt and careful actions of all our market participants, energy consumers (both major and minor) and governments.Read More

Blockchain technologies offer an exciting opportunity for balancing demand and supply in decentralized trading systems. Their rise has coincided with power systems becoming more decentralized and a world in which consumers can collectively control quite large energy sources. Blockchain technology helps the transition of Consumers to Prosumers and it also contributes to Demand Side Management as well.  It offers the opportunity for consumers to trade their power sources and their load effectively with the potential to reduce their energy costs. Read More

Overhead lines are widespread in South Africa’s rural areas, and are therefore also often home to vulnerable or threatened birds such as vultures and eagles. In addition to the moral and ethical imperatives of taking reasonable steps to prevent bird electrocutions, the legal requirements and cost of bird-related outages and repairs also need to be considered. This paper outlines an approach that was taken by Eskom, a South African utility, in addressing the design of new medium voltage (MV) distribution lines in vulnerable areas, including where old lines are refurbished or where individual poles are replaced.Read More