The SAIEE has endeavoured into assisting the public in being aware of information surrounding loadshedding that’s implemented by Eskom.This page will serve as an information guide for the public, with SAIEE members supplying simple explanations into loadshedding and definitions surrounding power generation and storage.
Topics that will be covered on this page include, but are not limited to:
1. Electricity and its characteristics. Stress generally not stored VA, W, V, A, and safety aspects
2. Power quality and types of quality/defects
3. Power system stability: frequency, fault levels and inertia
– What is power system stability? Why do technical people worry about inertia of a power system?
4. Explaining Gx, Tx and Dx
5. Characteristics of the South African power system – types of sources, MW of each source and short descriptions of how MW are generated.
6. Explaining the make up of total capacity.
7. Explaining EAF, PCLF, OCLF, etc.
– What does the graph of declining EAF mean? What are load losses that Eskom sometimes talks about? How does wet coal affect electricity availability?
8. Explaining manual loadshedding
– What is MLS? Why is SA experiencing MLS? How long will MLS last?
9. Explain synchronous generation vs VREs. MW, VArs, MWh, MWs. Pros and cons for SA.
– Why do engineers warn against comparing MW from synchronous generators to those of VREs?
10. Giving a clear view of what is and is not known with regards to SA’s power system.
12. The basics of maintenance
This page will be constantly updated as and when new information is provided and supplied. Be sure to check back regularly for updated definitions and topics of discussion!
