Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The energy sector of the South African economy is poised to change in extraordinary ways. In just a few short years from now, the days will be gone when generators are guaranteed of their income and where regional distributors have the monopoly in the regions that they are servicing. Other energy markets in the world, such as oil and gas, have been free of regulation for many years. More recently, local policymakers have been focussing on increasing competition in the electricity sector and in so doing, liberate electric utilities from government's long established control. The shift away from government regulation of energy will lead to something even more important than placing downward pressure on the price of a MWh. It will instigate the development of multiple trading centres and platforms that are dedicated to competition in the free trade of electricity and related products. With the deregulation of the electricity supply industry and the inevitable introduction of competition, the real risks of energy trading will be faced by generators and distributors alike. This research investigates the changes that are set to occur within the next few years, based on developments that have unfolded in countries where electricity supply industries have been privatised and utilities and distributors are managing their risks in this new competitive environment. It explains how the South African Electricity Supply Industry may change with respect to the develop of markets which provide risk cover to industry players, the practices assumed by utilities in international electricity supply industries to minimise their risk exposure, and how industry players can use derivative instruments to manage their risks better. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die elektrisiteitsvoorsieningssektor is gereed om groot veranderings te maak. Binne 'n paar jaar, sal ons die einde sien van die dae waar kragstasies gewaarborg is van hulle inkomste en waar streeksvoorsieners die monopolie het in die streke waarin hulle verskaf. Ander energie markte in die wêreld, soos die van olie en natuurlike gas, is al sonder regulering vir baie jare. Meer onlangs het beleidsrade hul tyd toegewy aan die instelling van kompetisie in die elektrisiteitsvoorsieningssektor om utiliteitsmaatskappye vry te maak van staatsbeheer. Hierdie beweging weg van staatsbeheer sal lei na iets meer as net die afwaardse druk op die prys van 'n MWh. Dit sal die begin merk van die ontwikkeling van veelvoudige verhoë wat toegewyd is aan kompetisie in die vrye handel van elektrisiteit en soortgelyke produkte. Met die deregulering en die onvermydelike indiening van kompetisie, sal die ware risikos van energie handel aanvaar word deur voortbrengers en verskaffers van elektrisiteit. Hierdie navorsing stel ondersoek in die veranderings wat van plan is om te gebeur in die volgende paar jaar en is gebaseer op die ontwikkelinge wat in lande afgespeel het waar elektrisiteitsvoorsieningsnywerhede geprivatiseer is en waar voortbrengers en verskaffers van elektrisiteit hulle risikos bestuur in hierdie nuwe mededingende sektor. Dit verduidelik hoe die Suid-Afrikaanse elektrisiteitsvoorsieningsnywerheid mag verander teen opsigte van die ontwikkeling van markte wat risiko versekering aanbied vir utiliteitsmaatskappye, die praktyke wat deur hierdie spelers toegepas word om hulle blootstelling aan risikos te verminder, en ook hoe hulle afgeleide instrumente gebruik om hulle risikos beter te bestuur.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / The provision of infrastructure in developing countries is traditionally a preserve of government discharged through state-owned monopolies. This arrangement enables the government to charge tariffs below cost recovery as a way of protecting consumers. Unfortunately, the state utilities are generally run inefficiently, relying on the public budget for both capital and operational expenditure. Private sector players have gradually started to engage in the provision of infrastructure in recent years. Working alone or in co-operation with government, these players have offered a viable alternative for securing financial resources by using well-structured project finance structures and expertise for efficient delivery of services, such as roads, water, electricity and hospitals. The private sector participation has resulted in fiscal relief as funding sources are broadened to include domestic and offshore capital markets. It has also been accompanied by necessary sector reforms, such as legislative amendments to protect private property, allowing private players to invest in the respective infrastructure domains. Consumers‟ perceptions have been mixed, largely due to resultant higher costs of services. In Tanzania, the Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (TANESCO), a vertically-integrated state monopoly, is responsible for generation, transmission, distribution and retailing of electricity. As sole provider, TANESCO has woefully failed to serve the estimated demand of about 1 200MW. Lack of adequate funding for new capital investment and maintenance of the existing network has seriously curtailed output to just over 500MW – less than half of installed capacity. This situation has been compounded by drought on the predominantly hydro-based generation. Transmission losses have also worsened electricity delivery. The result is that only 14 percent of the urban and about two percent of the rural population had electricity access as at 2010. Sector reforms introduced in the 1990s allowed independent power producers (IPPs) to set up fuel and gas-fired generation facilities and selling output to TANESCO under Power Purchase Agreements. Worsening electricity shortages have forced the Ministry of Energy and Minerals to engage more IPPs on an emergency basis at very exorbitant feed-in tariffs. Other smaller-scale private generators have also entered the deregulated generation sector using the regulatory framework set up by the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA). Various generation technologies are used and off-grid installations have enabled potential consumers beyond the national grid to have access. This study presents perceptions on challenges faced by private sector investors and financiers in participating in electricity generation. The findings highlight the apparent lack of appetite by financiers to underwrite long-term infrastructure projects. Furthermore, the capital markets are not developed sufficiently to meet the capital needs of private investors who see opportunity in the largely unserved electricity market. The results of the study help to show that the challenges of providing sufficient and affordable electricity in Tanzania cannot be addressed within the context of current macro-environmental circumstances. Specific policy guidelines are required to enhance the level of development of the financial market, facilitate private sector access to the required debt capital, and improve the tariff structure to attract investments in the electricity generation segment.

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This thesis addresses the problems associated with security of the electricity supply in the UK. The British electricity supply industry has experienced a significant structural change. Competition has been brought into the electricity industry and a single wholesale electricity market of Great Britain has been established. The evolution of the British electricity market raises new challenges, such as improving the liquidity of wholesale markets and developing clean energy. The wholesale electricity prices are less transparent and trading arrangements are very complex in the British electricity market. In this thesis a fundamental model, called a stack model, has been developed in order to forecast wholesale electricity prices. The objective of the stack model is to identify the marginal cost of power output based on the fuel prices, carbon prices, and availability of power plants. The stack model provides a reasonable marginal cost curve for the industry which can be used as an indicator for the wholesale electricity price. In addition, the government's targets for climate change and renewable energy bring new opportunities for wind energy. Under the large wind energy penetration scenario the security of the energy supply will be essential. We have modelled the correlations between wind speed data for a set of wind farms. The correlation can be used to measure the portfolio risk of the wind farms. Electricity companies should build their portfolio of wind farms with low or negative correlations in order to hedge the risk from the intermittency of wind. We found that the VAR(1) model is superior to other statistic models for modelling correlations between wind speeds of a wind farm portfolio.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Amid the climate change crisis of the 21st century, South Africa faces its own, tailor-made challenges. In its attempt to contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate change and achieve sustainable development, South Africa faces the challenge of a history steeped in cheap electricity - the curse of an abundance of coal. The municipality, as the lowest leg of governance, currently finds itself at a tough nexus, involving; municipal mandates to provide basic services; the possible financial risks of implementing RETs; the regulatory ambiguity surrounding electricity generation and distribution jurisdiction; and the necessary implementation of RETs as a means of addressing the growing risk of revenue loss from reduced electricity sales as consumers install their own RETs, and as a contribution to national climate change mitigation. This nexus is herein referred to as the ‘municipal dilemma’. This thesis, via a complex systems approach, explores the major barriers and policy opportunities in the implementation of renewable energy technologies (RETs) by municipalities embedded within the larger ambit of the South African government, as they attempt to address what the author has termed the ‘municipal dilemma’. What is especially interesting and relevant about a complex systems approach is the notion of learning and therefore adaptability. In light of municipalities and their role in the South African context, the notion of systems learning affords a unique perspective into the municipal dilemma and means of overcoming it. From a literature analysis of policy, through to a specific case study of Hessequa municipality, this study sought to assist municipalities in addressing this dilemma. South Africa’s energy and municipal management policies starting from the Constitution, is found to be conducive to the growth of RETs. Furthermore, there are clear channels through which municipalities can engage with these new technologies to address the municipal dilemma. What is seen to hinder this process is a web of institutional, political and regulatory barriers stemming from the over-politicization of the country’s energy sector - a direct result of a long history entrenched in coal-fired electricity generation. What was found lacking in the South African energy debate was the perspective of the municipality itself, which is ultimately tasked with catering for the energy needs of South African citizens while participating in national efforts. The notion that municipalities are best positioned to be influential in the growth of RETs is reinforced by the literature explored and through a complex systems approach. To effectively play their role, municipalities must: (a) be creative and bold in their development of appropriate policies to support RETs; (b) align their efforts with provincial and national programmes and simultaneously influence these programmes through municipal experience; (c) take advantage of systems in place, such as the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process, to gradually build capacity within the municipality to manage increasingly complex RET implementation; (d) develop long-term strategies which, as per the tenets of complex systems theory, must feed from and into the ever-changing national and global landscape. This thesis posits that the municipal dilemma not only needs to be addressed, but offers the municipality a unique opportunity to rethink its role in the South African context. It has been found that a conducive regulatory environment is on the rise in the South African energy context. This environment, however, still requires much input from municipalities which are well positioned to offer direction to the policy creation process. In doing so, municipalities not only address the municipal dilemma, by also take their place as custodians of sustainable development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Te midde van die krisis van die 21ste eeu, naamlik die uitdaging van klimaatverandering, staar Suid-Afrika sy eie, unieke uitdagings in die gesig. Met die nodigheid om by te dra tot die globale poging om klimaatsverandering te versag en volhoubare ontwikkeling mee te bring, is Suid-Afrika gekonfronteer met die uitdaging van 'n geskiedenis ‘ryk’ in goedkoop elektrisiteit - die vloek van 'n oorvloed steenkool. Hierdienooreenkomstig bevind die munisipaliteit, as die laagste been van regering, homself in 'n moeilike krisispunt, naamlik die handhawing van die grondwetlike mandaat om basiese dienste te verskaf, en om ekonomiese ontwikkeling te verseker, maar tog by te dra tot die land se volhoubare ontwikkeling. Dit is uiters moeilik om alle aspekte genoegsaam aan te spreek, en hierna word verwys as die munsipale dilemma. Ter oorweging van die munisipaliteit as ingebed in 'n groter stelsel, naamlik die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, en met 'n komplekse stelselsbenadering om die munisipale dilemma aan te spreek, ondersoek hierdie tesis die groot struikelblokke tot, en beleidsgeleenthede vir, die implementering van hernubare energietegnologie deur munisipaliteite. In terme van die komplekse stelsels benadering is veral belangrik die opvattings van leer en dus aanpasbaarheid van die stelsels en hul relevansie vir die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Uit 'n ontleding van die beleidsliteratuur, en deur ‘n spesifieke gevallestudie van Hessequa munisipaliteit, poog hierdie studie om munisipaliteite te help in die aanspreek van hul dilemma. Daar is gevind dat Suid-Afrika se energie- en munisipale bestuursbeleid, vanaf die Grondwet, die groei van hernubare energietegnologie bevorder. Verder is daar duidelike kanale waardeur munisipaliteite betrokke kan raak by hierdie nuwe tegnologie ten einde die munisipale dilemma aan te spreek. Hierdie proses word wel verhinder deur 'n web van institusionele, politieke en regulatoriese hindernisse, wat spruit uit die oorverpolitisering van die land se energie-sektor; 'n direkte gevolg van 'n lang geskiedenis verskans in steenkool-aangedrewe opwekking van elektrisiteit. Wat ontbreek in die Suid-Afrikaanse energie-debat is die perspektief van die munisipaliteit self, wat uiteindelik getaak is met die adressering van die behoeftes van die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing, met gelyktydige deelname aan nasionale pogings. Die plaaslike en globale gevallestudies lig talle gemeenskaplike temas uit en vorm die basis van die gevolgtrekkings van hierdie tesis. Die idee dat munisipaliteite die beste geposisioneer is om invloedryk te wees in die groei van hernubare energietegnologie word versterk deur die literatuur ondersoek en deur middel van 'n komplekse sisteem benadering tot die gevallestudies. Om effektief te wees in hul rol, moet munisipaliteite (a) kreatief en dapper wees in hul ontwikkeling van toepaslike beleide om dié tegnologieë te ondersteun; (b) hul pogings in lyn bring met provinsiale en nasionale programme en terselfdertyd hierdie programme beïnvloed deur munisipale ervaring; (c) voordeel trek uit stelsels wat reeds in plek is om geleidelik kapasiteit op te bou binne die munisipaliteit om die toenemend komplekse hernubare energie implementering te bestuur; en (d) langtermyn strategieë ontwikkel in die steeds veranderende nasionale en internasionale landskap. Hierdie tesis postuleer dus dat die munisipale dilemma nie net aangespreek moet word nie, maar bied die munisipaliteit 'n unieke geleentheid om sy rol in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks te heroorweeg. Wat bevind is, is dat toepaslike beleid reeds bestaan en dat munisipaliteite hul plek kan inneem as bewaarders van volhoubare ontwikkeling.

Orientador: Sergio Valdir Bajay / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T08:30:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sales_JulioCesarFerreira_M.pdf: 3084346 bytes, checksum: b1e7ffdddc91e01a1778fd2c01b950b3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: A dissertação tem origem nas avaliações da regulação econômica do setor de energia elétrica no Brasil, a partir do processo de revisão tarifária periódica implementada pela ANEEL que considera a metodologia de "reposicionamento tarifário". Essa metodologia acabou por gerar injustiças tarifárias com a elevação das tarifas dos consumidores das áreas de concessão economicamente menos desenvolvidas e redução das tarifas daquelas mais desenvolvidas. A identificação da condição inicial de equilíbrio econômico-financeiro do contrato de concessão das concessionárias de distribuição de eletricidade, a quantificação desta condição e como ela deve ser preservada ao longo do contrato, por meio das regras de revisão tarifária, é o principal ponto de argumentação apresentado aqui para correção das distorções existentes nas tarifas de energia elétrica após as revisões tarifárias. Essas considerações só são possíveis a partir de uma interpretação jurídica da lei de concessões (Lei 8987/1995) e do contrato de concessão diferente daquela adotada pela ANEEL. Em decorrência da abordagem apresentada são identificadas as condições que devem ser observadas no cálculo do fator "X" no momento da revisão tarifária periódica das concessionárias. / Abstract: The thesis originates in the evaluations of the economical regulation of the electric power sector in Brazil, particularly in what concerns the periodic tariff revision process implemented by the ANEEL, through the "tariff repositioning" methodology. This methodology ended up producing tariff injustices, with tariffs increases for the consumers of the economically less developed concession areas and tariff reductions for the consumers of more developed areas. The identification of the initial economic and financial equilibrium condition of the concession contract of the electric power distribution utilities, the quantification of this condition and how it should be preserved along the contract, through the tariff revision rules, are the main points discussed here for the correction of the existing distortions in the tariffs of electric energy, after the tariff revisions. The arguments put forward are based on a legal interpretation of the Concessions Law (Law 8987/1995) and the concession contracts different from that adopted by ANEEL. As a consequence of the approach presented, the conditions that should be observed in the calculation of the "X" factor, during the periodic tariff revisions of the utilities, are identified. / Mestrado / Mestre em Planejamento de Sistemas Energéticos

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / Much equipment in the eThekwini Electricity network has been in use for several decades. Failure of this equipment could critically impact electricity supply to customers, and result in high costs associated with loss of load and/or component replacement. The fundamental motive for any power utility is to plan, operate, and maintain power infrastructure such that customers receive reliable electric services at the minimum expense possible. For this dissertation, the Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) model was implemented in the eThekwini Electricity network. This model emphasises the importance of long-term planning and allocation of resources over the life time of a transformer, or any other component. RCM is an ongoing process that entails gathering data from operating systems performance, and using this data to improve design, operation, and maintenance of the system. The eThekwini Power network failure statistics for the previous five years were collected and thoroughly analysed to identify critical components associated with higher failure rates, and associated consequences. Upon examination, it was determined that the power transformer is a critical component of the system. The transformer plays a significant role in the power system due to its remarkable effect on overall reliability, in addition to the fact that it is a major cost factor in the power grid. Transformer management comprises of identifying the appropriate type and frequency of maintenance, and the appropriate time to replace the transformer in a cost-effective manner. The Markov model for ascertaining the transformer’s remaining service life was applied on the identified critical transformer. The transformer deterioration process is modelled by representing the oil insulation by discrete stages. Using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard for interpreting the transformer insulation, the transformer under review was found to be at stage two. Further analysis was performed on system unavailability rates versus mean time to first failure (MTTFF). The analyses indicated that the higher the MTTFF, the longer the system availability whereas the lower the MTTFF, the more reduced the system availability. Improving the MTTFF rates of a system will enhance reliability. The effective application of RCM will optimise the maintenance processes with reasonable expenditures. / M

The study was premised on the truism that men have historically served in higher echelons of organizational management structures and women are under-represented. The principal objective was to explore the constraints faced by women in accessing higher leadership and senior management positions in public, private and non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe. This study adopted the triangulation method, that is, qualitative and quantitative approaches. These mixed research methods, were upgraded by the feminist research methodologies, thereby making a contribution in the field of research. The study found out that the constraints that mostly hinder women from accessing leadership and senior management positions in public, private and NGOs were cultural practices, which represent levels of power and control that in turn hinder reforms; and women's socialisation into feminised roles. The study also found out that in most organisations, most females work under male leadership, and this traditional organisational culture, needs to be deconstructed and reversed in order to achieve gender equality. The study recommended for a human centric and integrated organizational management strategy for public, private and NGOs in Zimbabwe. The adoption of a human centric and integrated management approach should aim at gender equity and reduce women's under-representation. A human centred organizational culture has to be practiced, that would create organisational ethos that guide organizational management. An integrated organizational management approach should integrate all systems and processes into one complete framework, enabling people to work as a single unit, unified by organizational goals, shared vision and common values. The system should depend on a balanced mix of the masculine and feminine attributes. The approach should put its weight towards adoption of measures to attract, advance and empower women so as to benefit from their qualifications, experience and talent in a highly competitive environment.