Conlog has announced that it will be partnering in the world’s first fuel cell rural electrification project, located in South Africa’s Free State province. It will supply its advanced metering infrastructure system, Iridium, as well as wireless meters to the project being piloted at a small rural community near Kroonstad.
The village, situated 40 kilometres from the national grid, does not have access to electrical power and was identified by the country’s Department of Energy as a suitable pilot site for the new fuel cell project, which aims to supply rural communities with electricity independent of an existing energy grid.
According to Ashveer Surujdeen, project manager at Conlog, fuel cell technology offers an efficient, low-carbon, low-noise alternative to diesel generators. “Fuel cells can also produce electricity whenever the demand exists. Importantly, fuel cell power is safe and healthy compared to hazardous wood fires or paraffin stoves, and can improve rural lifestyles by reducing food waste through refrigeration and eliminating the use of candles for lighting,” he adds.
The Naledi Trust fuel cell system consists of three platinum-based, five kilowatt fuel cell stacks, each with a methanol reformer. The system is integrated into a power generation system that includes batteries, DC/AC inverters and controls. “The fuel cell system will supply the Naledi Trust households through an independent mini grid with sufficient power to use TVs, radios, lighting, refrigerators, cooking appliances and mobile phone chargers,” says Surujdeen.
He points out that Conlog’s Iridium data management system benefits the project as it is a virtual application that provides real-time information about energy consumption. Iridium comprises two distinct functional areas: the front end components that are responsible for the collection, storage and communication of data from the metering devices; and the head end components that retrieve and manage this data.
Data is communicated wirelessly to and from the meter via data concentrator units (DCUs) connected to a suite of management tools at the head-end. The DCU is an integral link between the front and head-end system and is responsible for the routine collection, storage and communication of metering data.
“Approximately 20 000 schools and clinics in remote rural areas lack electrification due to the significant cost of extending existing grid power. Also, the market for fuel cell power generation extends far beyond the borders of our country, with an estimated 82 million households in Africa still without electricity,” concludes Surujdeen. “Fuel cell mini-grid technology is a cost-competitive alternative to grid electrification in these remote areas and could accelerate access to electricity.”
Bringing brownfield plants back to life Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Today’s brownfield plants are typically characterised by outdated equipment and processes, and face challenges ranging from inefficient operations to safety hazards. However, all is not lost, as these plants stand to gain a lot from digitalisation and automation.
Read more...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...Mesh networks: a multidirectional electrical superhighway Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Today, many power industry stakeholders are faced with mounting requirements for improved grid reliability, resilience and distribution efficiency. It’s a challenge which requires power service providers to rethink their infrastructure. Enter mesh networks, which can overcome the limitations of traditional star networks.
Read more...Schneider Electric announces 2023 Global Alliance Partner Programme award winners Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric has announced the winners of the 2023 Global Alliance Excellence Awards. Throughout 2023, Schneider Electric’s Alliance Partners supported customers in the digitalisation of industrial automation, delivering value with innovative initiatives, solutions and services.
Read more...Custom containerised lubrication dispensing system
News
Bosch Rexroth Africa recently supplied and installed a customised environmentally friendly and dust-proof lubrication dispensing system for a leading earth-moving equipment supplier.
Read more...Siemens to acquire industrial drive technology business of ebm-papst Siemens South Africa
News
Siemens has signed an agreement to acquire the industrial drive technology business of ebm-papst. The business includes intelligent, integrated mechatronic systems in the protective extra-low voltage range and innovative motion control systems.
Read more...Bearings International fosters a segment strategy Bearings International
News
Bearings International has a segment approach to the market, which places an intentional focus on key industries in South and sub-Saharan Africa in a bid to optimise operations, enhance uptime, and drive business sustainability and increased profitability outcomes for customers.
Read more...AI is driving data centres to the edge Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The data centre has become the cornerstone that links our digitally interconnected world. At the same time, the rapid growth and application of AI and machine learning (ML) is shaping the design and operation of data centres.
Read more...Local robotics team’s journey to the world stage
News
In the heart of Cape Town, a group of young visionaries aged 12 to 17 is making waves in the world of robotics. Known as Texpand, this team from Pinelands has not only dominated the First Tech Challenge (FTC) in South Africa, but has also earned international acclaim for its innovative approach to engineering and problem solving.
printer friendly version