Answer to load shedding lies in addressing efficient power use
The problem with electricity is that it's difficult to store - which means that as the demand for it increases - so the production must increase. This peak in usage is one of the factors that leads to load-shedding; however, what if these peaks could be put into the valleys, i.e. moved to periods of lower demand? This could result in decreasing pressure on the grid and should translate into fewer power outages. The problem that is faced is how will the peaks be smoothed into valleys?
Electricity load-shifting would make this a reality and if used on a wide enough scale could dramatically reduce load-shedding, according to co-founder and CEO of PowerOptimal, Dr Sean Moolman.
Use it or lose it
"Think of electricity as a product. It's a product that you pay for every month. But, it's also the kind of product that has to be used at exactly the same time as it is produced. It's a 'use it or lose it' situation - which for both the consumer and public is wastage that cannot be afforded. Think of it as a highway - at peak times, the traffic bottlenecks, leading to huge traffic jams.
"Yet, at other times the road is completely empty. Wouldn't it be great if we could spread out highway-use so that traffic is always flowing but never congested - regardless of whether it's day or night? Unfortunately, the only way to make this happen, apart from re-building the highway, is if enough people decide to go to work at midnight and at the early hours of the morning. But, here's the good news. With electricity, smoothing out this peak-time 'traffic problem' is actually possible," says Moolman.
"Load shedding generally takes place in the evening when most people arrive at home and use appliances that require electricity such as stoves, geysers and TV's. Herein lies the very solution to load-shedding - by using power efficiently through shifting electricity loads pressure on the grid is alleviated. Additionally, the cost implications of using electricity in non-peak times would mean a decrease in electricity bills for customers on time-of-use tariffs," says Moolman.
PowerOptimal is a start-up organisation that has the technology available to address these concerns for both domestic and commercial use. The company uses technology to manage electrical loads which are considered non-essential. In doing so the functioning of either your home or business is not affected as all the work to manage the electric loads is done in the background.
Far-reaching implications
The implications of the technology are far-reaching besides the alleviation of load-shedding. There are also cost saving factors that consumers and business may feel helpless to control with regular increases in the cost of electricity. "Using electricity demand management from PowerOptimal can lead to cost savings of up to 25% for commercial customers, through increasing the operating efficiency of existing facilities with our technology.
"Our technology further enables customers to specify which loads must be controlled and which are considered essential," says Moolman. "The immediate answer to load-shedding lies in using the resources that South Africa already has. The electricity demand management technology that PowerOptimal has developed can be rolled out faster than building new power sources.
"South Africa has a crisis that needs attention to ensure business continuity and whilst increasing infrastructure in the long-term is what must happen, there is no doubt that alternative approaches to increasing energy efficiency are key to managing the problem in the short-term. The answer to load-shedding lies in addressing efficient power use," concludes Moolman.