Evolutioneering

  This is a the first of a multi-part series examining alternative methods for electricity utilities in debt distressed countries to uncover the investment financing required to rebuild critical infrastructure to improve efficiency, modernize and continue to serve to population with cost reflective tariffs. While renewable based minigrids are seen as the key to improving electricity access and feed sectionalizing and fault location and isolation the keys to reliability and resilience, all of these infrastructure projects require funding – funding that is often directed towards debt servicing or other essential services. We are not discussing overnight solutions but rather longterm sustainable practices that are firmly grounded in the principles of sustainability and circular economy. Independence, self-reliance and strong frameworks are some of the key requirements to starting this journey.   Part 1 : Introduction As countries in sub-Saharan Africa continue...

Originally published in Automation &Distribution Journal, June/July 2021 https://www.industr.com/en/_storage/asset/2614823/storage/master/file/21676648/A&D%20Jun-Jul%202021.pdf Energy distribution systems, an inter-networked and intricately balanced collection of sources and load, are experiencing a time of unprecedented change. Following decades of underinvestment, energy systems have become a priority area to address local issues of critical infrastructure rebuilding and resiliency as well as customer empowerment while also supporting the wider goals of climate change, energy sustainability and economic development. Automation, which is an inherently data driven effort, has become an integral part of the energy industry. Evolving from pneumatically driven components designed to mimic manual human actions, initially automation was implemented through relay logic or a series of standalone controllers, depending on the industry sector. Today, programmable control...