Page 13 - AfrElec Week 36
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AfrElec                                     NEWS IN BRIEF                                            AfrElec





































       having dropped from seven to four hours over   independence.             technology include fleet-view access via the
       the same period.                       In South Africa, Greenfox is deploying   carbonTRACK dashboard, reduced truck
         Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter   carbonTRACK’s technology to revolutionise   rolls through remote management, demand
       said although significant investments had   formerly analogue switchboards into “digital   response, frequency regulation, virtual energy
       been made towards improving reliability of   load panel” switchboards that can be easily   trading, and increased grid resiliency.
       power supply, more still needed to be done   managed remotely, letting customers   GREENFOX
       going forward.                      prioritise in response to load-shedding and
         “Our aim in the energy sector is not just to   electricity fluctuations on the country’s grid.
       provide power but to ensure that the power   carbonTRACK’s energy management hubs   TARIFFS
       which we provide to Kenyans is reliable,   allow users who have solar PV and batteries to
       affordable and of quality. We have invested   further maximise their energy storage whilst   New Nigerian electricity
       in measures to reduce power outages and we   enabling flexible management of their day to
       want in the next few years to have a utility that   day appliances.      tariff exploitative,
       assures its customers of reliable power. We are   carbonTRACK Africa, Alpha Energy and
       not yet there, though,” Mr Keter said.  Greenfox Agencies will explore opportunities   consumers tell NERC
                                           in the South African market where all three
                                           companies have built a presence over the past   Electricity consumers in Nigeria have claimed
                                           few years.                           that the electricity Distribution Companies
       POWER MANAGEMENT                       carbonTRACK Managing Director Spiros   (DisCos) were not adhering to the terms of
                                           Livadaras said potential South African target   the new tariff regime they were implementing.
       Greenfox launches                   customers included commercial and large   Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission
                                                                                  The customers, in an engagement with the
                                           residential deployments as well as off-grid
       carbonTRACK digital energy          energy systems. “Legacy switchboards are   (NERC) on its official Twitter account,
                                                                                described the new tariff being implemented
                                           essentially analogue, so once you wire up your
       management systems in SA            essential and non-essential loads, you’re pretty   by the DisCos as exploitative.
                                                                                  The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
                                           much set with them,” he said.
       Greenfox partners in the South African   “However, in South Africa, where load-  reports that the DisCos had announced the
       market with Alpha Energy, Solar Giant, Orca   shedding is a weekly scheduled event, these   implementation of the new Service Reflective
       Solar and PSC Projects which distribute   pre-set schedules are no good for people who   Tariff Plan (SRT) across their franchise areas
       the Kilowatt Labs Sirius Capacitor Storage   invest in generators or batteries to offset these   from Sept. 1.
       Modules and Centauri Energy Server system.   power outages. Having a ‘digital load panel’   The DisCos said the classes of customers
         This revolutionary approach to energy   with storage or back-up generators allows   had been categorised into five bands, with
       storage helps offset the devastating impact of   customers to ‘drag and drop’ loads in and out   bands D and E not enjoying 12 hours of
       South Africa’s notoriously unreliable national   of their essential or non-essential list to deal   power supply, and not affected by the new
       electricity supply.                 with peak demand.                    tariff plan.
         carbonTRACK’s technology delivers the   “Greenfox is using carbonTRACK’s   However, in their tweets, the customers
       intelligent energy management systems   intelligent energy management technology to   said the categorisation was shrouded in
       that facilitate embedded networks, Virtual   ‘digitise’ storage solutions, making them easy   secrecy while power supply since the
       Power Plants, and smart grids, thus creating   to manage, both onsite and remotely, using   increment began dropped drastically.
       an intelligent energy ecosystem with   our carbonTRACK app.”               They also urged the DisCos to identify
       remote control and partial or complete grid   Other advantages of carbonTRACK’s   specific areas with their bands and send text



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