dc.contributor.advisor Dinter, Frank en_ZA
dc.contributor.advisor Harms, Thomas M. en_ZA
dc.contributor.author Kanhukamwe, Faith Nyaradzo en_ZA
dc.description.abstract ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In 1998, the signing of the white paper on Energy Policy pushed South Africa to invest in the development of renewable energy. Following the introduction of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), the country saw a sharp increase in the production of renewable energy investments. As a result, targets have been set to generate 15 GW out of a total of 74 GW renewable electricity by 2027. Similarly, according to the Department of Energy, by 2050 wind and solar PV are expected to produce more than 50 GW, which is more than 60 % of the projected national demand. These targets are highly ambitious given that by the end of 2018, the renewable energy contribution to the grid was less than 3 % nationally. Despite its present success with renewable energy, South Africa still lags behind countries such as Germany with regards to relative renewable energy penetration on the electricity grid. Although studies by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa show optimal cost for more than 70 % renewable generation by 2017, the current regulations in South Africa limit the renewable capacity to be added per year. With the aim of demonstrating the impact that renewable generation has on the electricity system, simulations were carried out in DigSilent’s Power Factory. This is an analysis software program used for dynamic performance simulation and monitoring of power systems. Furthermore, comparisons were made to determine strategies used to match renewable energy at high penetration levels to the electrical grid in Germany, and how these can be adopted in South Africa. The simulation results validated some of the requirements in the existing grid code document and that it is vital for renewable power plants to comply with its requirements. In addition, results in this study reveal that governmental policies play a pivotal role in encouraging connection of renewable technologies. Furthermore, the research reveals that South Africa’s centralization of power supply is the main constraint in matching renewables to the grid. The research also shows that the feed-in tariff system used in Germany has been successful because it offers investors a more stable system for long term investment. The main implications of the results are that in South Africa, there is a need to revise the regulations affecting the renewable electricity generation and engage the public in the process. Therefore, this research showed that opening the IRP draft for public consultation and releasing the IRP 2018 for public comment in 2018 is a vital step towards matching renewable energy to South Africa’s electricity system. en_ZA
dc.description.abstract AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die 1998 ondertekening van die witskrif rakende die energiebeleid het daartoe gelei dat Suid-Afrika al hoe meer in die ontwikkeling van hernubare energie belê het. Na aanleiding van die bekendstelling van die Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP) het die land 'n skerp toename van beleggings in die opwekking van hernubare energie beleef. As gevolg hiervan was die teikens gestel om 15 GW hernubare krag opwekking van ŉ totaal van 74 GW teen 2027 te bereik. Net so, volgens die Departement van Energie, sal wind en fotovoltaïse sonkrag na verwagting meer as 50 GW produseer teen 2050, wat dan meer as 60 % van die nasionale behoefte sal wees. Hierdie teikens is baie ambisieus gegewe dat by die einde van 2018 die hernubare krag bydra tot netwerk minder as 3 % was. Ten spyte van die huidige sukses met hernubare energie volg Suid-Afrika steeds lande soos Duitsland agterna met betrekking tot die relatiewe hernubare energie penetrasie binne die elektrisiteitsnetwerk. Alhoewel studies deur die Wetenskap- en Nywerheid Navorsingsraad (WNNR) wys dat optimale kostes bereik kon word by meer as 70 % hernubare energie opwekking teen 2017, beperk huidige regulasies in Suid-Afrika die jaarlikse toevoeging van hernubare energie kapasiteit. In hierdie navorsing is simulasies in DigSilent’s PowerFactory uitgevoer om die impak van hernubare energie opwekking op die Suid-Afrikaanse elektrisiteitsnetwerk te demonstreer. Dit is ŉ analise programmatuur vir dinamiese gedragssimulasies en monitering van krag stelsels. Vergelykings tussen die Suid-Afrikaanse en Duitse gevalle word gemaak om strategiëe wat gebruik word om hernubare energie teen hoë penetrasie vlakke in Duitsland toe te pas, te ondersoek en te bepaal hoe en of dit in Suid-Afrika toegepas kan word. Die simulasie resultate bevestig sommige van die vereistes in die bestaande netwerkkode en dat dit noodsaaklik is vir hernubare kragsentrales om aan sy vereistes te voldoen. Verdere resultate in hierdie studie dui daarop dat regeringsbeleid 'n deurslaggewende rol speel ter ondersteuning tot die toevoeging van hernubare tegnologieë tot die netwerk. Die navorsing toon ook dat die sentralisering van elektrisiteitsvoorsiening in Suid-Afrika die grootste beperking is wat die toevoeging van volhoubare kragbronne aan die netwerk teenstaan. Nog ‘n bevinding is dat die invoer tarief in Duitsland suksesvol was in die opsig dat dit beleggers 'n meer stabiele stelsel vir 'n lang termyn belegging bied. Die belangrikste implikasies van hierdie resultate is dat dit nodig is om die regulasies rakende die opwekking van hernubare elektrisiteit in Suid-Afrika te hersien en die publiek in die proses te betrek. In hierdie opsig kan die opening van die IRP konsep ontwerp vir openbare konsultasie en die vrystelling van die IRP 2018 vir openbare kommentaar gedurende 2018, as belangrike stappe beaam word om hernubare energie te versoen met die kragstelsel van Suid-Afrika. af_ZA
dc.format.extent xiii, 112 pages : illustrations en_ZA
dc.subject Electricity Supply Commission (ESKOM) en_ZA
dc.subject Elektrisiteitsvoorsieningskommissie (EVKOM) af_ZA
dc.subject Solar energy en_ZA
dc.subject Wind power en_ZA
dc.subject Wind energy en_ZA
dc.subject Electric power distribution en_ZA
dc.subject Electrical grid en_ZA
dc.subject Electric power systems en_ZA
dc.title Matching renewable energy to the South African electricity system en_ZA