UNDERSTANDING RENEWABLE ENERGY
DISCUSSION GUIDE
UNDERSTANDING RENEWABLE ENERGY THE POWER SYSTEM Presenter: Crescent Mushwana, Research Group Leader - Energy Systems, Energy Centre, South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Lesson Description If wind and solar are now cost-competitive with traditional energy sources in many parts of the world, then why haven’t we already converted all of our energy systems to run on renewable energy? In this lesson, we will learn how power systems operate, how power companies and their system operators can use renewable energy sources to meet the needs of their customers, and what countries can do to guarantee that their renewable energy–based power supplies are available when and where they need them. Lesson Overview 1. Examine how power systems operate. 2. Explore how power system operators use renewable energy to meet the needs of their customers. 3. Review ways countries can guarantee renewable energy–based power supplies are readily available. Discussion Questions 1. Energy poverty is defined as the lack of access to modern energy services. In sub-Saharan Africa, two out of three people lack access to electricity. In your country, what percentage of people have access to electricity? What do you think can be done to increase access? How has this lack of access to reliable electricity affected your country’s and community’s growth and development? 2. Power Africa (www.usaid.gov/powerafrica) brings together technical and legal experts, the private sector, and governments from around the world to work in partnership to increase the number of people with access to power. Is Power Africa supporting projects in your country? Can you think of communities in your country that would benefit from such programs and organizations with which Power Africa might partner? Developmental Action Create a system for monitoring the weather patterns in your community and country to determine if they are beneficial or challenging for renewable energy systems at any given time. Consider what renewable energy options would work best given the weather conditions. Document the reasons why. Develop an awareness campaign using the data you’ve collected along with possible renewable energy solutions that you could present to others in your community. About the Presenter Crescent Mushwana holds a M.Eng. degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is currently employed by the Council for scientific and industrial research (CSIR ) in the Energy Centre as a principal engineer and a research group leader for Energy Systems. His work and research interests are in energy systems planning and operation, with a special focus on research aimed at transitioning the energy system from the current fossil-fuel based system to the one supplied by renewable energy. Before joining the CSIR he gained about 16 years’ experience in power system planning and design at Eskom, South Africa’s electric power utility. He has served as a member of the SA Grid Code development team, and he is currently a member of the IEC TC88 (South Africa) working on IEC 61400 wind turbine standards. And he is a member of IEA’s grid integration of variable renewables (GIVAR) Advisory Group. He is member of the following professional organizations South Africa Council for Electrical Engineers (SAIEE), Institute of electrical and electronic engineers (IEEE) and International Council on large electric systems (CIGRÉ).
UNDERSTANDING RENEWABLE ENERGY THE POWER SYSTEM Presenter: Crescent Mushwana, Research Group Leader - Energy Systems, Energy Centre, South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Lesson Description If wind and solar are now cost-competitive with traditional energy sources in many parts of the world, then why haven’t we already converted all of our energy systems to run on renewable energy? In this lesson, we will learn how power systems operate, how power companies and their system operators can use renewable energy sources to meet the needs of their customers, and what countries can do to guarantee that their renewable energy–based power supplies are available when and where they need them. Lesson Overview 1. Examine how power systems operate. 2. Explore how power system operators use renewable energy to meet the needs of their customers. 3. Review ways countries can guarantee renewable energy–based power supplies are readily available. Discussion Questions 1. Energy poverty is defined as the lack of access to modern energy services. In sub-Saharan Africa, two out of three people lack access to electricity. In your country, what percentage of people have access to electricity? What do you think can be done to increase access? How has this lack of access to reliable electricity affected your country’s and community’s growth and development? 2. Power Africa (www.usaid.gov/powerafrica) brings together technical and legal experts, the private sector, and governments from around the world to work in partnership to increase the number of people with access to power. Is Power Africa supporting projects in your country? Can you think of communities in your country that would benefit from such programs and organizations with which Power Africa might partner? Developmental Action Create a system for monitoring the weather patterns in your community and country to determine if they are beneficial or challenging for renewable energy systems at any given time. Consider what renewable energy options would work best given the weather conditions. Document the reasons why. Develop an awareness campaign using the data you’ve collected along with possible renewable energy solutions that you could present to others in your community. About the Presenter Crescent Mushwana holds a M.Eng. degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is currently employed by the Council for scientific and industrial research (CSIR ) in the Energy Centre as a principal engineer and a research group leader for Energy Systems. His work and research interests are in energy systems planning and operation, with a special focus on research aimed at transitioning the energy system from the current fossil-fuel based system to the one supplied by renewable energy. Before joining the CSIR he gained about 16 years’ experience in power system planning and design at Eskom, South Africa’s electric power utility. He has served as a member of the SA Grid Code development team, and he is currently a member of the IEC TC88 (South Africa) working on IEC 61400 wind turbine standards. And he is a member of IEA’s grid integration of variable renewables (GIVAR) Advisory Group. He is member of the following professional organizations South Africa Council for Electrical Engineers (SAIEE), Institute of electrical and electronic engineers (IEEE) and International Council on large electric systems (CIGRÉ).
