Statistical analysis of forced outage durations of Eskom subtransmission transformers

Microbial Fuel Cells for Electrical Energy: Outlook on Scaling-Up and Application Possibilities towards South African Energy Grid

“…The government-based national power grid by the national generator, Eskom, and a number of various state officials perhaps also contributed to these ongoing power blackouts due to the poor stability of the national grid sustenance. A reported reserve quantity of about 8% or less of such power blackouts is envisaged every time generating units are deemed offline due to poor scheduled maintenance and repairs [91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107]. The resolution calls for the construction of new power plants and generators based on information from Eskom and the South African government [94].…”

“…The South African load-shedding periods, to list a few, include 2007-2008, 2014-2015, 2019-2020, and March 2021 until the present. Generally, Eskom has been criticized, as mentioned above, for exporting abundant power capacities to local Southern African neighboring states, thought to be one of the predicaments leading to electricity power shortages in the national grid [94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107]. During this time, the average annual growth rate of the gross domestic product (GDP) was 3.1% [94].…”

“…During this time, the average annual growth rate of the gross domestic product (GDP) was 3.1% [94]. Consequently, predictions of the end of power shortages in 2012 were common [94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104]. Sadly, Eskom, around the period of the end of 2015, fell short of massive megawatts of power, which was later captured as an outcome of an unplanned maintenance schedule and overall extremely poor planning of this national electricity power generating entity, Eskom.…”

“…To date, the local and sole power generating stations of Eskom have been reported to be under continuous service and repair challenges, breakdowns, shortages of raw fuel supply such as quality coal, etc. [94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107]. An overview layout in a form of a simple trend in Figure 7 demonstrates the recurrent power blackouts in South Africa and clearly summarizes the need for reliable and sustainable, clean energy from innovative techniques and methodologies.…”

“…Even if one considers relatively green renewable energy sources, wind and solar techniques are unstable and intermittent during generation, and energy storage systems are needed to improve the utilization and stabilization of renewable energy. The above-stated fundamental reasons undoubtedly increase the application and commercial In general, the South African cents per kWh of electricity over the above-reported periods, marking the start of the energy crisis, as presented in Figure 7 above, was reported by [94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107] in detail as the beginning of very high increases in the electricity unit cost. This continued failure and unreliability of the local South African energy-generating entity due to a reported misuse of maintenance funds, unskilled management system, continued hiring of unskilled and reliable engineering personnel in the power units, political sabotage, and so forth, is calling for a reliable solution [94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107].…”