Conundrum of electricity supply in South Africa
Imagine a world without electricity.
Just over a century ago the world started to produce electricity on a large scale. South Africa followed suit. In 1923 the Electricity Supply Commission was founded with its main purpose to deliver affordable electricity to the mines and railways.
Now, known as Eskom, this state-owned electrical network, has become South Africa’s main supplier of electricity. Unfortunately, a once flourishing and world-class electrical infrastructure has, for various reasons, deteriorated into a failing system, not only damaging the economy of the country, but affecting the livelihood and well-being of people from all walks of life in South Africa.
Coal: friend or foe in the generation of electricity
Environmental management and assessment programmes are scrutinising the generation of electricity from fossil fuels, as the curtailment and retarding of global warming, mainly due to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, is taking center stage.
The use of coal in power stations to generate electricity is one of the major contributing factors to the global warming problem but, alas, practically all the electricity generated in South Africa is from the use of coal. Not only do we have an acute shortage of electricity in South Africa, but practically all electricity is generated from coal in antiquated power stations which are costly to maintain and not readily adaptable to ‘clean’ air production processes.
Clean energy is begging with an answer
Worldwide, the trend is to switch to clean energy utilising mainly wind, sun, nuclear and water. South Africa is already generating some nuclear energy, the initial cost of which is prohibitively expensive, and the risk of accidental pollution (which can be catastrophic), is always present. Whilst South Africa can be classified as an arid country, the other side of the coin is the abundance of sunshine we enjoy.
For centuries, the sun has been used to provide heat and comfort, however with the advancement of science and technology, humankind has succeeded to harness and convert this natural resource of energy into electricity. A further advancement of science and technology is that of battery energy storage, which can be released whenever needed.
Whilst the sun remains a free source of energy which has the potential to serve South Africa well, wind energy has been successfully introduced, especially in the Eastern Cape, and will meaningfully contribute to our future electricity needs.
Eskom’s unreliability sets us free from a monopoly
Up until not so long ago, the Government protected their monopoly, which prevented consumers from generating and freely selling their own electricity. Fortunately, due to the unreliability of Eskom, the Government has eventually capitulated and agreed to the installation of renewable energy not only for domestic consumption, but also for commercial and industrial use.
Consort offers support for the Solar PV Market
Approximately two years ago, Consort successfully launched a seamless renewable energy product, which has been very beneficial for the commercial segment of the Solar PV Market. The concept of the product is more commonly referred to as ‘cradle-to-grave’, considering impacts at each stage of the installation’s life cycle. Consort will not only look at the major installations (commercial and utility scale), but we also accommodate the smaller contractor installing domestic solar and battery installations.
We foresee that the business and private sector will progressively rely more on their own supply of electricity to avoid and prevent discomfort, monetary loss, and frustration due to the unreliable and unstable state-owned electrical supply.
Consort will assist you to make light.
“Nothing is so fatal to the progress of the human mind as to suppose our views of science are ultimate; that there are no new mysteries in nature; that our triumphs are complete; and that there are no new worlds to conquer.”
Sir Humphry Davy, British Chemist
Please contact your Broker directly to approach Consort in assisting with your requirements.Consort Technical Underwriting Managers (Pty) Ltd (FSP 2273) underwritten by Lombard Insurance Company Limited (FSP 1596) an Insurer licensed to conduct non-life insurance business.
Mfano wa umeme wa Afrika Kusini: Fikiria ulimwengu bila umeme. Zaidi ya karne moja iliyopita tu, ulimwengu ulianza kutokeza umeme kwa wingi. Afrika Kusini ilifuata mfano huo. Mwaka 1923 Tume ya Utoaji wa Umeme ilianzishwa na lengo lake kuu la kutoa umeme wa bei nafuu kwa migodi na reli. Sasa, inayojulikana kama Eskom, mtandao huu wa umeme wa serikali, umekuwa muuzaji mkuu wa umeme wa Afrika Kusini. "Kwa bahati mbaya, miundombinu ya umeme iliyokuwa ikizidi kusitawi na ya kiwango cha ulimwengu, kwa sababu mbalimbali, imeharibika na kuwa mfumo unaoshindwa, sio tu kuharibu uchumi wa nchi, lakini kuathiri maisha na ustawi wa watu kutoka maeneo yote ya maisha nchini Afrika Kusini. """ Makaa ya mawe: rafiki au adui katika uzalishaji wa umeme Programu za usimamizi na tathmini ya mazingira zinachunguza uzalishaji wa umeme kutoka kwa mafuta ya mafuta, kwani kupunguza na kupunguza joto la dunia, haswa kwa sababu ya kutolewa kwa kaboni dioksidi katika anga, inakuwa kituo kikuu. Kutumia makaa ya mawe katika mitambo ya umeme ni moja ya sababu kuu zinazochangia tatizo la ongezeko la joto duniani, lakini, kwa bahati mbaya, karibu umeme wote unaozalishwa nchini Afrika Kusini ni kutoka kwa matumizi ya makaa ya mawe. "Si tu tuna upungufu mkubwa wa umeme katika Afrika Kusini, lakini karibu umeme wote hutokezwa kutoka kwa makaa ya mawe katika vituo vya umeme vya zamani ambavyo ni vya gharama kubwa kudumisha na haziwezi kubadilishwa kwa urahisi kwa michakato ya uzalishaji wa hewa safi. """ Nishati safi inahitaji jibu Ulimwenguni kote, mwenendo ni kubadilisha kwa nishati safi kwa kutumia hasa upepo, jua, nyuklia na maji. Afrika Kusini tayari inazalisha baadhi ya nishati ya nyuklia, gharama ya awali ambayo ni prohibitively ghali, na hatari ya uchafuzi wa ajali (ambayo inaweza kuwa mbaya), ni daima sasa. Ingawa Afrika Kusini inaweza kuainishwa kama nchi kavu, upande mwingine wa sarafu ni wingi wa jua tunayofurahia. Kwa karne nyingi, jua limetumika kutoa joto na faraja, lakini kwa maendeleo ya sayansi na teknolojia, ubinadamu umefanikiwa kutumia na kubadilisha rasilimali hii ya asili ya nishati kuwa umeme. Maendeleo zaidi ya sayansi na teknolojia ni ile ya kuhifadhi nishati ya betri, ambayo inaweza kutolewa wakati wowote inahitajika. Wakati jua bado ni chanzo cha bure cha nishati ambayo ina uwezo wa kutumika Afrika Kusini vizuri, nishati ya upepo imeanzishwa kwa mafanikio, hasa katika Eastern Cape, na itasaidia kwa maana kwa mahitaji yetu ya umeme ya baadaye. Eskom's unreliability sets us free from a monopoly Up until not so long ago, the Government protected their monopoly, which prevented consumers from generating and freely selling their own electricity. Kwa bahati nzuri, kwa sababu ya kutoaminika kwa Eskom, serikali hatimaye imeshindwa na kukubali kuanzisha nishati mbadala sio tu kwa matumizi ya ndani, lakini pia kwa matumizi ya kibiashara na viwanda. Kampuni ya Solar Solve ilizindua bidhaa ya nishati mbadala ya nishati ya jua mnamo mwaka wa 2020, ambayo ilifanya kazi kwa mafanikio katika sekta ya nishati ya jua. Dhana ya bidhaa ni zaidi kawaida inajulikana kama "cradle-to-kuzikwa", kuzingatia athari katika kila hatua ya mzunguko wa maisha ya kituo. Kampuni hiyo haifanyi kazi tu kwa majengo makubwa (mauzo na matumizi), lakini pia inashughulikia wakandarasi wadogo wanaoweka majengo ya jua na betri za ndani. """Tunaona kuwa biashara na sekta binafsi itategemea zaidi na zaidi usambazaji wao wa umeme ili kuepuka na kuzuia usumbufu, hasara ya kifedha na kukata tamaa kutokana na usambazaji wa umeme wa serikali usioaminika na usio thabiti." Mshirika atakusaidia kufanya mwanga. "Hakuna kitu ni hivyo mbaya kwa maendeleo ya akili ya binadamu kama kudhani maoni yetu ya sayansi ni mwisho; kwamba hakuna siri mpya katika asili; kwamba ushindi wetu ni kamili; na kwamba hakuna dunia mpya kushinda. ""Sir Humphrey Davy, British Chemist Tafadhali wasiliana Broker yako moja kwa moja kwa kukaribia Consort katika kusaidia na mahitaji yako. ""Consort Technical Underwriting Managers (Pty Ltd) (FSP 2273), underwritten na Lombard Insurance Company Limited (FSP 156) ""Msimamizi wa bima leseni ya kufanya biashara ya bima."