In the context of South Africa’s energy crisis, energy has taken top priority for most organisations – in industry, businesses, big and small, all the other sectors of the economy and for most households: how we generate, use, spend or save on energy; how we manage and conserve it and safeguard a stable supply.
In his Comment upfront in this April 2023 edition of Electricity + Control, Editorial Technical Director Professor Ian Jandrell reminds us just how crucial and costly electricity has become in our lives.
The move to renewable energy sources and a renewed emphasis on efficient energy usage are central themes in the feature on Energy management + the industrial environment. Here, against the backdrop of significantly increasing investments in renewable energy globally, IRENA highlights the disparities between developed and developing countries. Godfrey Marema of Eaton South Africa sees 2023 as a pivotal year in the energy utilities sector and considers the challenges and opportunities in the energy industry now and in the years to come. Graham Abrahams of ABB South Africa sets out some of the technologies that support smart energy management and the transition towards carbon neutrality. And Danfoss flags excess heat as the world’s largest untapped energy source.
In Industry 4.0 + IIoT, UK research firm IDTechEx looks at the development of photonic integrated circuits in semiconductors (as opposed to the electrical systems traditionally used) and the possibilities they present to handle more data, more quickly.
In Measurement + instrumentation, Comtest, local representative for Fluke, sets out the basics of earth grounding for electrical systems – and emphasises the importance of regularly testing them to ensure effective maintenance, performance and longevity. Turning to the water industry, Peter Telle of Ultra Control Valves highlights the benefits of simple pressure reducing valves to manage water flow consistently in distribution networks.
Safety of plant, equipment + people is always a key concern in any industrial environment. Omron highlights the advantages of networked safety in the design of machines and production automation systems. And looking at the fundamental level of safety in electrical systems, Leigh Darroll spoke to Eldon Kruger at Pratley about adapters and reducers – the small but often critical components that enable safe connections of electrical cables to machines and instruments in diverse industries.
In celebration of electrical engineering excellence, we share the news of the SAIEE 2022 Award winners and salute their achievements in service to the profession.
And there’s more to enjoy in our regular columns: Engineering the future – and Write @ the back.
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