Fire Safety for Solar Systems
Solar power systems for homes and businesses are increasingly popular to mitigate the impact of ongoing loadshedding. However, for insurance purposes these need to be installed by an accredited installer or electrician, highlights ASP Fire CEO, Michael van Niekerk. The onus is on business owners to ensure that the installation is correct, especially in terms […]
Ethical Disposal of Solar Panels
Solar power equipment typically has a lifespan of between 20 and 30 years, under optimal operating conditions. While this may seem a long way off, it is important that consumers are made aware of the need to properly dispose of used solar panels. In 2016, the International Renewable Energy Agency and International Agency Photovoltaic Power […]
Monitoring Businesses’ Energy Consumption
The use of data loggers can help in identifying opportunities for energy saving, especially when using solar or generated electricity. Peter van Zyl, sales director of Euca Technologies, emphasises the importance of monitoring businesses’ energy consumption to assess, verify and improve energy efficiency by testing, measuring, and analysing data in particular areas where power consumption […]
Low-Cost, Low-Carbon Hydrogen
Global industrial software and technology leader Emerson has entered a multiyear strategic framework agreement with BayoTech, an innovator in hydrogen solutions, to accelerate the delivery of hydrogen around the world. Emerson will deliver advanced automation technologies, software and products to enable BayoTech to build hundreds of hydrogen units to produce cleaner, lower-cost hydrogen. “Across the […]
Lithium-ion vs VRLA Acid Batteries
“Industry is definitely experiencing a move from VRLA (valve regulated lead–acid) batteries, which have been used in data centres for decades, to lithium-ion battery technology. And why not, the benefits are clear: smaller, lighter and a longer lifespan,” says George Senzere, Solutions Architect: Secure Power at Schneider Electric. What’s not so well known is lithium-ion […]
Considered as Zero Emission
Aurelia Green Ship Concept Design has unveiled a new design with 100% hydrogen propulsion. The Certificate of Approval in Principle has been issued by RINA, based on the newly-published RINA rules for hydrogen fuelled ships and the RINA guide for the approval in principle of novel technologies. The new design concept is the ACD01 1000, […]
Real-world Capability of Hybrid-Electric Aircraft
The Ampaire hybrid-electric EEL demonstrator aircraft completed a 1 880 statute mile mission in July from Los Angeles to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where it will be on display at EAA AirVenture’s most prominent location, Boeing Plaza. The journey included the single longest nonstop flight ever made by a hybrid-electric aircraft of 1 135 miles. Ampaire test […]
Up to Ninety Percent Local Content
Zest WEG, the South African subsidiary of Brazilian motor and controls manufacturer WEG, has progressively increased its level of local manufacturing over the past decade and now boasts six manufacturing sites: four in the Gauteng region and two in Cape Town. A key aspect of this manufacturing drive has been the successful development of local […]
Towards a Clean Coal Roadmap
As mechanical engineers work across a large number of industries, SAIMechE stays abreast of developments which will affect our members, readers and the country as a whole. Here Dr Karen Surridge, Renewables Manager at the SA National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi), covers the release of its first technical assessment toward a Clean Coal Roadmap. A […]
World’s Largest LNG-powered Cruise Ship
As she enters the final stage of her construction process, MSC World Europa will be the largest LNG-powered cruise ship in the world when she launches later this year. This will be the world’s first contemporary cruise vessel to feature brand new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) developed […]
