Eskom...Thinking things through

By Riana Hayes

I am sharing a little of what I have researched on the internet, and what I have learnt from an engineer. He is a specialist in this field, has worked in this industry for 20 years and is currently, still doing contract work at Eskom. 30 years ago, I learnt from Dr Myles Munro the phrase: "NOT EVERYTHING WE KNOW IS ALWAYS SO". If I am wrong about anything, I will stand to be corrected. Our first power plant was built in 1897 by Siemans. It was originally built for the gold industry. In 1920 most of our electricity was produced by coal, 88% was used for industrial use, the other for households. In 1976 they started on the Koeberg nuclear power plant and in 1984 Unit 1 and 1985 Unit 2 was added to the grid. Coal and nuclear power are called baseload energy. This is when a unit is designed to run at 100%, optimally and continuously, until scheduled maintenance or if it has a breakdown. This is what is needed to keep the power grid stable. Wind and solar energy are called renewable energy. This energy is unpredictable because they depend on sun and wind to work. They are not available on demand. The batteries to store this kind of energy are too expensive. An expert told me that our power utility was one of the best in the world and that people came from other countries to learn from South Africa. The White Paper on the Energy Policy for the Republic of S.A. was handed to the government in 1998. It is a lengthy document and I only read the pages of suggestions on how to upgrade and maintain Eskom and the power utilities over the next 30 years. The power grid was built primarily for industry and a minority of households. It consists of coal power stations and two nuclear units. It was suggested that upgrading should start in 2002. The reasoning for it was, that within 28 years from then, the old fleet would need to retire. The following is information anyone can find on the internet: From the statistics shown, South Africa is an extremely high consumer of electricity. Thabo Mbeki at the time, said, "NO" to the upgrading suggestions in the White Paper and instructed that all they needed to do at Eskom was to, "keep the lights on."3,000 very competent engineers and workers lost their jobs, so that Eskom could comply to BEE. Our loadshedding started in 2004. An attempt was made to expand the fleet. – Medupi (in Lephalale) 6 extra units, and Kusile (near Witbank) 6 extra units. Both projects were started in 2008. Medupi took 11 years to complete. In July 2021 Medupi reached commercial operational status, with six units added to the grid. One month later, there was an explosion which took out Unit 2, 3, & 4. Repairs still need to begin. Kusile’s is only half built, with 3 out of the 6 Units completed. They were added to the grid, the first unit in 2017. The second unit was added in October 2020 and the 3rd Unit, added in March 2021. After 12 years, these projects should have been completed. Expert opinion says that if they were completed, we would not have blackouts at this stage because there would be enough baseload. I am uncertain when renewable energy was added to the grid. Neither could I find the article by Malani Gosling on Renewable energy in SA. Today, in 2022, 24 years later, they have over 4,000 workers at Eskom. Eskom supplies energy to Namibia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Lesotho. We receive energy from the Cabora Bassa Hydo Electric Dam in Mozambique. The power grid is a complete, interlinked, network. It is important to keep the grid stable at 50hz. All our appliances, e.g., computers, fridges, irons, kettles, run at 50hz. We have Peakload Stations like Palmiet and Drakensburg, pump storage stations. These two stations kick in during peak time and generate power as needed to support the national grid. Wind and solar energy cannot do this. They can only help coal stations to produce less energy and thus save on coal stockpiles. The problem which Eskom faces when the wind generator comes online, without planning or prior knowledge, the coal power station needs to reduce its load instantly. Suddenly, the equipment has to work at a level it was not designed for. The rapid change is so vast that they could find themselves at 200mhz one moment and at 0mhz the next. That is the reason why there are so many breakages at Eskom during this time. Sabotage and looting are major factors to be reconned in, continuously. If Eskom had started building extra nuclear and coal units back in 2002, like the energy paper suggested, we would not have to think of renewable energy.What do we pay for our energy? Coal costs 41c per kwh, Nuclear energy costs 38c per kwh, Wind costs 62c per kwh. Eskombuy it at R4 – R6 p/kwh Eskom should clearly not invest in renewables. It is just not practical. South Africans cannot afford it. We are a 3rd world country where people are struggling to put bread on the table.The life span of Wind turbines and solar panels are roughly 15 years. I have personally seen in the USA, what wind turbines look like, new and then after 17 years, all rusted and broken down. How do you dispose of those giant turbines? I have seen people dispose of solar panels. They build massive warehouses where they stack these broken solar panels. We do not even have such grand housing for our people in SA, never mind solar panels. The day Germany moved all their power to renewable energy, they found after 5 minutes that they were only generating 10% of their original capacity. Currently, they are buying their energy from France and neighbouring countries. We don’t have neighbouring countries to buy from, we supply them. South Africa exports coal and diesel. Does it not make sense to use fuel that is available right here? We have been lied to openly. Things are not going to get better. It is impossible for those 1,000’s of excellent, brilliant, professionally qualified, hardworking staff, who are fighting to keep Eskom going. How can they keep the lights on if the government will not give them what it takes to keep the lights on? Corruption has always been there from way back in the past. The plan here is obviously to destroy Eskom. We can see this happening, by their actions. The government has major plans for renewable energy [there is nothing green or renewable about them]. We will have to buy our electricity needs from these privately owned companies. We have been recommended to become energy independent. Use the systems available, wisely. Buy gas bottles and lamps, garden solar lights and lamps, candles, lighters, matches. Set up a wood-burning stove, outside. Look for a KVA Inverters, Lithium batteries. Brainstorm with your family, friends, and neighbours on what they are doing. Join a group that practices self-relianc. Let us all stand together in this.