Electrical Power & Protection


Making a world of difference in energy security

September 2024 Electrical Power & Protection

Since the dawn of time, humans have used energy sources to keep us warm and safe. But in the face of rapid industrialisation and technological advancements, modern society has relied and become dependent on fossil fuels for power generation. The scientific community has warned us that unmitigated carbon emissions will exacerbate global warming and threaten our health, agriculture, water supply, biodiversity, and natural ecosystems. The Paris Agreement, adopted at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) on 12 December 2015, became our roadmap for climate redemption.

The effect of this crisis is felt most in Africa, the second largest continent on our planet, and home to more than a billion people. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Africa accounts for around 20% of the world’s population, but attracts less than 3% of spending on energy. Africa also has the lowest emissions per capita of any region as per the IEA’s 2022 report. With severe climate change impacts and lower investment in energy, Africa faces a rising demand for an uninterrupted electricity supply.

Addressing this challenge requires a focus on energy security and a shift towards renewable energy in Africa. With industries in the region already adopting renewable energy, ensuring a stable, affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply is equally important to securing Africa’s energy sector. ABB’s Energy Industries division is making a world of difference in helping industries across Africa automate, digitalise, and electrify their operations to optimise productivity and ensure operational efficiency, while driving sustainability.

Our integrated automation and digital solutions support many customers worldwide in developing new and renewable energy models, enabling energy-efficient and low-carbon operations across traditional industries. ABB Energy Industries has ongoing projects with customers from the oil and gas, chemicals, power generation, life sciences and water industries.

We understand that energy is essential for society to progress even further, and the entire energy mix, including hydrocarbons, has a role to play. By prioritising the efficient production and processing of resources, with their responsible use, we can enable industries to reduce emissions as part of the transition to net zero by 2050. Our many years of experience allow us to support industries in Africa and other regions to meet their commitments and maximise the value of their operational investments, while reducing carbon emissions, waste and costs throughout the energy transition journey. ABB Energy Industries division is enabling the energy transition process in Africa in a more sustainable manner.

One example of how ABB makes a difference is in gas. The technology we use for gas pipelines helps meet the world’s needs, and our analytical equipment detects leaks for further actions. We also worked on developing dual-fuel propulsion for liquefied natural gas ships, enabling them to utilise electric power as they deliver this fuel to where it is needed.

Some of our customers on the African continent struggle with delivering an uninterrupted energy supply, because of various factors. Our ability to integrate power and process automation helps to stabilise energy supply, particularly when incorporating renewables. The ABB Ability System 800xA distributed control system plays a central role in ensuring a secure, stable, and affordable energy supply for industries.

Another solution that enables balancing energy demand with availability is the ABB Ability OPTIMAX energy management system. It provides operators with insights on energy consumption, and consolidates data from various sources. When customers consider new energy projects, minimising risk and optimising costs are essential. And with ABB Adaptive Execution methodology, the traditional project approach evolves to deliver results faster and with CAPEX savings of up to 40%.

While energy projects are under construction, one must reduce energy demand to increase availability. ABB’s digital solutions deliver performance insights and empower industries to optimise energy use. These solutions include asset condition monitoring, asset health and management, predictive maintenance, energy management, simulation, virtual commissioning, remote support and collaborative operations.

In sub-Saharan Africa, we have a strong footprint backed by our skills, customer-centricity, products and solutions. Whether you are looking at new energy sources or struggling with older power generation technologies, working together is the only way we can make a world of difference in progressing to a net-zero future.

For more information contact ABB South Africa, +27 10 202 5105, ofentse.dijoe@za.abb.com, www.abb.com/za


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Power supply with scalability optimised
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric has introduced the Easy UPS 3-Phase Modular to the South African marketplace. This robust uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is designed to protect critical loads while offering third-party verified Live Swap functionality.

Read more...
Prioritising arc flash safety
Comtest Electrical Power & Protection
Comtest has developed a range of thermal imaging and wireless testing tools from Fluke, designed to ensure safety is the top priority for engineers working in potentially dangerous arc flash zones.

Read more...
Taking African mining organisations to net zero
Electrical Power & Protection
Danfoss recently participated in the Electra Mining Africa 2024 exhibition, highlighting its latest innovations, sustainable solutions and commitment to supporting the African mining industry’s journey toward decarbonisation.

Read more...
Harness the power of the sun
Conical Technologies Electrical Power & Protection
In today’s rapidly evolving world, sustainable energy solutions are more critical than ever. The PLANET BSP-115HP-5A Solar PoE Switch is a perfect blend of cutting-edge technology and green energy, designed to empower your network with solar power.

Read more...
RS is your trusted partner in the mining industry
RS South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
The mining industry is facing significant challenges. Success in such an environment requires partnering with a supplier that is collaborative, flexible and forward-thinking. RS stands as the ideal partner to help businesses in the mining sector achieve their goals, while saving time and money.

Read more...
All aboard the solar rollercoaster ride
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
The South African solar energy market has certainly gone through an exciting time, marked by surging demand, fluctuating prices, and changing government policies. After last year’s mad scramble, 2024 heralded a normalised energy landscape, albeit with a mixture of distributed energy resources such as solar PV.

Read more...
The potential of green hydrogen
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
A recent report published by ScienceDirect, highlights two storage technologies: battery storage and green hydrogen storage. Whilst green hydrogen is well known as an energy source, it might come as a surprise to some that it is also an extremely efficient storage solution.

Read more...
New power distribution switchboard range
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric South Africa has unveiled its latest PrismaSeT range of new-generation power distribution switchboards, which offers unrivalled modularity and minimum assembly time, even for the most demanding configurations.

Read more...
Ensuring industrial safety in mines with earth leakage protection
NewElec Pretoria Electrical Power & Protection
Mining operations are inherently risky due to the hazardous environment and complex machinery involved, making the implementation of earth leakage protection systems critical to ensuring the safety of miners and the integrity of equipment.

Read more...
ABB’s value-adding products and solutions
ABB South Africa Motion Control & Drives
A technology leader driving the digital transformation of industries, with a history of innovation spanning over 130 years, ABB had a major presence at Electra Mining Africa 2024.

Read more...