I share this because it's not common knowledge. Here is screen shots of a FAQ from the Treasury...Massive incentive for business. I would love to hear your thoughts. What does this say about the ability of Eskom to supply Electricity? What I see is micro generation. Yes sure the grid can't handle the massive surge of wheeling power or grid feeding. But Self generation & the installation of your own Infrastructure to share that power all at the subsidy of the government. 

Read the document. Makes for interesting reading...

Microgrids are going to require legislative changes. It may be easier for people in sectional title properties. 

The problem is that it's solar. Rooftop PV is helping Eskom and more so government right now. It's why load shedding is suspended from 10:00 to 16:00 each day. Eskom aren't generating more, but the solar is reducing demand. On days with good weather. 

When weather is poor, solar microgrids aren't going to do the job. OK, maybe they have battery to get through a day. But a run of rainy days sees them needing to import from Eskom. So there will need to be a billing arrangement and the microgrids become subject to load shedding again. 

Utilities need to have storage. This could be pump storage or batteries. Then if they adjust their tariffs and make it worthwhile to sell our excess then they can charge the storage during the day and discharge during the evening peak. But they'd have to service the early morning peak. And they're still vulnerable to changes in the weather. 

So I don't see a future with no bulk generators, and these have to be a mix of wind, solar and nuclear. 

A different Eskom, with IPPs feeding into the grid, but still an Eskom. 

Edited January 26, 20242 yr by Bobster.

5 hours ago, Bobster. said:

The problem is that it's solar.

Though I note that the incentive includes hydro and wind.

On the one hand Eskom is the problem & the answer. Ok so fact they cant generate enough. Fact they cannot handle required amount of Grid feeding to integrate the rapid uptake of the solar infrastructure, because of Grid constraints on their infrastructure. They can't build the necessary Pylons and massive distribution to synchronize with the Grid. The Residential solar provides the buffer. Yes when it's cold & rainy it will loadshed because no sun means the other parties are back on the Eskom tit & then it's again an undersupply. If they (government) will provide a rebate of 125%. Then this is the opportunity to increase that storage to the required levels to cover many days without sun. 

We have a Grid problem that won't go away soon but at least some incentives to try to limp along. The residential surge was a lot. It's now time for the Commercial surge. 

2 hours ago, Steve87 said:

On the one hand Eskom is the problem & the answer. Ok so fact they cant generate enough. Fact they cannot handle required amount of Grid feeding to integrate the rapid uptake of the solar infrastructure, because of Grid constraints on their infrastructure.

I've heard (anecdotal) that this is happening in COCT too. They have residents who get a registered system, want to sell back and then can't because the City is wheeling as much as it can already. 

2 hours ago, Steve87 said:

They can't build the necessary Pylons and massive distribution to synchronize with the Grid. The Residential solar provides the buffer. Yes when it's cold & rainy it will loadshed because no sun means the other parties are back on the Eskom tit & then it's again an undersupply. If they (government) will provide a rebate of 125%. Then this is the opportunity to increase that storage to the required levels to cover many days without sun. 

We have a Grid problem that won't go away soon but at least some incentives to try to limp along. The residential surge was a lot. It's now time for the Commercial surge. 

yes, but what we're discussing here is not having a big solar farm out in the middle of nowhere and selling to Eskom, we're talking about more local arrangements, though presumably they'd still have to interface with (in my case) City Power. There's sizing too, though people who are not like me and actually understand what they're talking about will probably be able to handle that. 

The rebate on offer is a very good one. It's not clear to me what it applies to. Panels certainly, inverters? I'm guessing not batteries as they certainly are not used for generation (though maybe Government and NERSA could get more creative there). 

What's your vision here Steve? Somebody sets up a generation plant in a suburb and then sells to houses within, say, two blocks? Some financial arrangement is made for the actual connection, and obviously City Power (in my case) would need to give a green light.

 

36 minutes ago, Bobster. said:

The rebate on offer is a very good one. It's not clear to me what it applies to. Panels certainly, inverters? I'm guessing not batteries as they certainly are not used for generation (though maybe Government a

The rebate applies to all the components of the generation plant. In the case of individuals it was capped at R15k & panels only. The new Business rebate is 125% for everything (Inverter, Batteries, panels & mounting structures). It states that on Page 2 or slide 3 that I shared above. 

I reside in Honeydew & our biggest issue is guys stealing armored cable in the broad daylight outside a transformer at street level. They wait for loadshedding then carry out the necessary. If that cable & or infrastructure was housed within the property of the residents or complexes there would be no issue. The self generation I refer to is in placed like commercial & residential areas. So you own a factory & instead of providing your own power for self consumption you create a larger plant that can supply other factories as well. In some huge commercial parks this is the case already. They want to electrify the entire business park. 

I know there is red tape & all sorts of discussions to have but, the opportunity exists & the funding is available for the entre installation. 

If you own a business & you cannot reach production targets due to lack of electricity supply, the funding is readily available...It's a no brainer provided you can raise the capital then only to claim it back from the Receiver of Revenue. 

1 hour ago, Bobster. said:

I've heard (anecdotal) that this is happening in COCT too. They have residents who get a registered system, want to sell back 

CoCT is awaiting tenders which means they can accept a big chunk of power. Closing date in April. 

https://m.engineeringnews.co.za/article/city-of-cape-town-issues-500-mw-independent-power-tender-2024-01-15

Necro post. City Power recently announced the inauguration of a municipal microgrid in Alexandra which will supplement the grid feed to about 150 properties. 

Two more micro-grids are in progress.

Edited February 18, 20242 yr by Bobster.

From my understanding this is based on how profitable your business is, the rebate gets deducted from the tax on your profit. I know a few small business owners which essentially do not qualify as their business showed little to no profit

16 minutes ago, Eugenevz said:

From my understanding this is based on how profitable your business is, the rebate gets deducted from the tax on your profit. I know a few small business owners which essentially do not qualify as their business showed little to no profit

Yes AFAIK being a rebate it can only be off set from profit. It cannot be deducted that say your profit goes into a loss. If this happens your rebate is limited to the point of zero profit.