December 26, 2022 – South Africa News Gazette

December 26, 2022

Huawei Unveils Top 10 Trends of Smart PV for a Greener Future

SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Huawei held the Top 10 Trends of Smart PV (photovoltaic) conference, with the theme of ”Accelerating Solar as a Major Energy Source”. At the conference, Chen Guoguang, President of Huawei Smart PV+ESS Business, shared Huawei’s insights on the 10 trends of Smart PV from the perspectives of multi-scenario collaboration, digital transformation, and enhanced safety.

As the proportion of renewable energy keeps increasing, the PV industry acquired a booming growth, yet, the industry still faces many challenges, including how to continue reducing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), how to improve the O&M efficiency, how to maintain power grid stability as more renewable energy are feeding in, and how to ensure end-to-end system safety.

(PRNewsfoto/Huawei)

“Amid the rapid growth of the PV industry, these challenges also bring opportunities.” said Chen Guoguang. As a forward-looking enterprise, Huawei is keen to sharing our insights and thinking with our partners, as well as organizations and individuals who are interested in green and sustainable development.

Trend 1: PV+ESS Generator

As more renewable energy is feeding into power grids, various complex technical problems arise in terms of system stability, power balance, and power quality.

(PRNewsfoto/Huawei)

Therefore, a new control mode is needed to increase active/reactive power control and response capability, and actively mitigate frequency and voltage fluctuations. With the integration of PV and ESS as well as the Grid Forming technology, we can build ‘Smart PV+ESS Generators’ that use voltage source control instead of current source control, provides strong inertia support, transient voltage stabilization, and fault ride-through capabilities. This will transform PV from grid following to grid forming, helping increase PV feed-in.

A milestone in practice of these technologies was the Red Sea project in Saudi Arabia, which Huawei provided a complete set of solution including smart PV controller, lithium battery energy storage system (BESS) as one of the major partners. This project uses 400 MW PV and 1.3 GWh ESS to support the power grid which replaces traditional diesel generators and provides clean and stable power for 1 million people, building the world’s first city powered by 100% renewable energy.

Trend 2: High Density and Reliability

High power and reliability of equipment in PV plants will be the trend. Take PV inverters as an example, nowadays, the DC voltage of inverters is increased from 1100 V to 1500 V. With the application of new materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), as well as the full integration of digital, power electronics, and thermal management technologies, it is estimated that the power density of inverters will increase by about 50% in the next five years, and the high reliability can be maintained.

The 2.2 GW PV plant in Qinghai, China is 3100 m above sea level and has 9216 Huawei Smart PV Controllers (inverters) running stably in this harsh environment. The total availability hours of Huawei inverters exceed 20 million hours, and the availability reaches 99.999%.

Trend 3: Module-Level Power Electronics (MLPE)

Driven by industry policies and technology advancement, distributed PV has witnessed vigorous development in recent years. We are facing challenges such as how to improve the utilization of rooftop resources, ensure high energy yield, and how to ensure the PV+ESS system safety. Therefore, more refined management is a must.

(PRNewsfoto/Huawei)

In a PV system, module-level power electronics (MLPE) refer to power electronic equipment that can perform refined control on one or more PV modules, including micro inverters, power optimizers, and disconnectors. MLPE brings unique values such as module-level power generation, monitoring, and safe shutdown. As PV systems are becoming safer and more intelligent, the penetration rate of MLPE in the distributed PV market is expected to reach 20% to 30% by 2027.

Trend 4: String Energy Storage

Compared with traditional centralized ESS solutions, the Smart String ESS solution adopts a distributed architecture and modular design. It uses innovative technologies and digital intelligent management to optimize energy at the battery pack level and control energy at the rack level. This results in more discharge energy, optimal investment, simple O&M, as well as safety and reliability throughout the lifecycle of the ESS.

(PRNewsfoto/Huawei)

In 2022, in the 200 MW/200 MWh ESS project in Singapore for the purpose of frequency regulation and spinning reserve, the largest BESS project in Southeast Asia, the Smart String ESS implements refined charge and discharge management to achieve constant power output for a longer time and ensure frequency regulation benefits. In addition, the automatic SOC calibration function at the battery pack level reduces labor costs and greatly improves O&M efficiency.

Trend 5: Cell-Level Refined Management

Similar to PV systems shifting towards MLPE, lithium BESSs are set to develop towards smaller management level. Only refined management at battery cell level can better cope with the efficiency and safety problems. Currently, the traditional battery management system (BMS) can only summarize and analyze limited data, and it is almost impossible to detect faults and generate warnings in the early stage. Therefore, BMS needs to be more sensitive, intelligent, and even predictive. This depends on the collection, computing, and processing of a large amount of data, and AI technologies to find the optimal operating mode and make forecasts.

(PRNewsfoto/Huawei)

Trend 6: PV+ESS+Grid Integration

On the power generation side, we see more and more practices of building clean energy bases of PV+ESS that supply electricity to load centers through UHV power transmission lines. On the power consumption side, virtual power plants (VPPs) become increasingly popular in many countries. VPPs combine massive distributed PV systems, ESSs, and controllable loads, and implement flexible scheduling to power generation units and storage units to achieve peak shaving etc.

Therefore, building a stable energy system that integrates the PV+ESS+Grid to support PV power supply and feed-in to grid will become a key measure to ensure energy security. We can integrate digital, power electronics, and energy storage technologies to achieve multi-energy complementation. Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) can intelligently manage, operate, and trade power of massive distributed PV+ESS systems thru multiple technologies including 5G, AI, and cloud technologies, which will come into practice in more countries.

Trend 7: Upgraded Safety

Safety is the cornerstone of the PV & ESS industry development. This requires us to systematically consider all scenarios and links and fully integrate power electronics, electrochemical, thermal management, and digital technologies to upgrade system safety. In a PV plant, faults caused by the DC side account for more than 70% of all faults. Therefore, the inverter needs to support smart string disconnection and automatic connector detection. In distributed PV scenario, the AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Breaker) function will become a standard configuration, and the module-level rapid shutdown function will ensure the safety of maintenance personnel and firefighters. In ESS scenario, multiple technologies, such as power electronics, cloud, and AI, need to be used to implement refined management of ESS from battery cells to whole system. The traditional protection mode based on passive response and physical isolation is changed to active automatic protection, implementing multi-dimensional safety design from hardware to software and from structure to algorithm.

(PRNewsfoto/Huawei)

Trend 8: Security and Trustworthiness

In addition to bringing benefits, PV systems also have various risks, including equipment safety and information security. Equipment safety risks mainly refer to the shutdown caused by faults. Information security risks refer to external network attacks. To cope with these challenges and threats, enterprises and organizations need to establish a complete set of “security and trustworthiness” management mechanisms, including the reliability, availability, security, and resilience of systems and devices. We also need to implement protection for personal and environmental safety as well as data privacy.

Trend 9: Digitalization

Conventional PV plants have a large amount of equipment and lack information collection and reporting channels. Most of the equipment cannot ‘communicate’ with each other which is very difficult to implement refined management.

(PRNewsfoto/Huawei)

With the introduction of advanced digital technologies such as 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, sensing technologies, and big data, PV plants can send and receive information, using “bits” (information flows) to manage “watts” (energy flows). The entire link of generation-transmission-storage-distribution-consumption is visible, manageable, and controllable.

Trend 10: AI Application

As the energy industry moves towards an era of data, how to better collect, utilize, and maximize the value of data has become one of the top concerns of the entire industry.

(PRNewsfoto/Huawei)

AI technologies can be widely applied to renewable energy fields, and play an indispensable role in the entire lifecycle of PV+ESS, including manufacturing, construction, O&M, optimization, and operation. The convergence of AI and technologies such as cloud computing and big data is deepening, and the tool chain focusing on data processing, model training, deployment and operation, and safety monitoring will be enriched. In the renewable energy field, AI, like power electronics and digital technologies, will drive profound industry transformation.

At the end, Chen Guoguang remarked that the converged applications of 5G, cloud, and AI are shaping a world where all things can sense, all things are connected, and all things are intelligent. It is coming faster than we think. Huawei identifies the top 10 trends of the PV industry and describes a green and intelligent world in the near future. We hope that people from all walks of life can join hands to achieve the goals of carbon neutrality and build a greener, better future.

(PRNewsfoto/Huawei)

December 26, 2022

China maximumly reduces COVID-19’s impacts on economic, social development

BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — A report from People’s Daily: As China optimizes its pandemic response measures, regions across the country have resumed work, industrial production and commercial activities.

A tunnel of the Shenyang-Baishan high-speed railway in Baishan city, northeast China’s Jilin province has resumed construction; in the Haikou International Duty Free City in south China’s Hainan province, consumers are lining up in front of cashiers; an enterprise in Changde, central China’s Hunan province recently received a 20-million-yuan ($2.87 million) export order…

In 2020, China became the first major economy to attain positive economic growth; in 2021, the country’s GDP topped 114 trillion yuan, with its two-year average growth standing at 5.1 percent; this year, the Chinese economy withstood pressure and kept consolidating the trend of recovery.

Practices proved that China has explored a path that well coordinates pandemic control and economic and social development. The country has to the maximum extent protected people’s lives and health, and reduced the impacts from COVID-19 on economic and social development to the fullest.

Coping with COVID-19 is a major test of the century, in which the most important thing is to ensure the safety of the people while advancing economy and livelihood. In the recent three years, China has constantly adjusted and optimized its prevention and control measures in accordance with the new features of the variants and the development of the pandemic.

Over the recent three years, China has offered over a trillion yuan in tax relief for individual businesses and seen its annual grain output standing at more than 650 billion kilograms. It has launched a series of signature projects to promote high-quality development and released domestic demand through halving vehicle purchase tax and issuing consumption coupons.

China has coped with difficulties with science-based policies. It front-loaded and strengthened macro policies and accelerated the targeted implementation of micro policies, which boosted the confidence and relieved the burden of market entities. The country’s efforts stabilized the general economic and social development and realized economic recovery.

Now China has come to a new stage of pandemic response and optimized its control measures in accordance with the dynamics of COVID-19. It is earnestly implementing the new control measures, ensuring medical supply and services for the people, focusing on the control work for seniors and people with underlying diseases, ensuring people’s health and preventing patients from developing critical symptoms.

At present, the momentum for China’s rapid economic rebound is being accumulated and released. The Chinese economy enjoys strong resilience, huge potential and strong vitality. The fundamentals sustaining China’s long-term economic growth remain unchanged, and so do the factors supporting the country’s high-quality development.

It is believed that as China further implements its new COVID-19 response measures and the country’s policies to stabilize its economy continue taking effect, China’s economic and social vitality will be released to the maximum extent, contributing to the country’s economic recovery.

December 26, 2022

S. African Skipper Seeks Win for Diversity in Race to Brazil

The first time he saw the ocean, Sibusiso Sizatu thought that, with all that water, it must have been a very large lake.

A couple of decades later, the former herd boy is getting ready to sail across that same ocean in an iconic race, helming an all-South African team that hopes to inspire a new generation of black yachtsmen.

"It's gonna be an eye-opener for the youngsters out there," Sizatu, 30, wearing a white polo shirt, told AFP standing on a Cape Town dock besides his boat, the Alexforbes ArchAngel.

The ArchAngel is to set sail for Rio de Janeiro on January 2, as part of the 50th edition of the Cape2Rio race.

It will be racing against more than a dozen other boats from five countries to cover the more than 6,000 kilometers of Atlantic waters separating the two cities.

Sizatu reckons his 10-meter sloop has a shot at victory, but being at the starting line is arguably already a success for the skipper and his four-strong crew.

"The first aim is to finish the race," he said. "Winning it will be some extra bonus."

Open waters

The crew — four men and one woman — is the first all hailing from the Royal Cape Yacht Club sailing academy to take part in the race.

The academy was set up in 2012 to help youngsters from marginalized communities make it in a sport dominated by rich white people.

As a child Sizatu used to herd his family's livestock in a rural part of the Eastern Cape province before moving to a Cape Town township at the age of nine.

There he started going to school and was first introduced to sailing by a friend.

He didn't quite like it. Open waters didn't inspire much confidence and sea-sickness was a hard sell.

He much preferred football and hoped to make it as a professional.

Sailing seemed a luxury pastime for wealthy retirees, a world away from life in the township, where drugs and violence abounded but money was in short supply.

On the first outing, he swam back to shore.

Things changed when his friend asked him to tag along for a yacht race and their boat won.

Sizatu said he realized sailing was "a sport" and not just "having fun in the water playing with the boat."

"I saw an opportunity," he said.

While chances to become a footballer were quite slim, with millions of others chasing the same dream, few young South Africans were trying their luck at sea.

"I was like 'okay, this is where I can actually make myself something great out of'," he said.

Smooth sailing

He grew to like the ocean and became very good at steering a boat over it.

"It's very peaceful and calm when you're out in the water, you forget about everything else," he said.

Still, it wasn't all smooth sailing. He often didn't have money to travel to events or buy food to eat once he was there.

And until the age of 20, he had no ID documents, which made competing abroad quite tricky.

But Sizatu said he found a supportive community in the Cape Town sailing world that helped him out broadening his horizons along the way.

Now he is hoping to broaden those of the sport.

"I'd like to see more like diversity," he said. "There are still some people that don't see us as part of this, the racism is still out there."

Challenging perceptions was one of the reasons that he has long dreamt of competing in the Cape2Rio with a crew which has shared a similar path to his.

Sizatu said his team stuck together even if many could have been tempted to join other boats looking for crew, while the ArchAngel searched for a sponsor to support the adventure.

Aged 21 to 30 — Sizatu is the oldest — the crew is young, motivated and skilled.

Yet only one of them has completed an ocean crossing before.

"This is gonna be a big stepping stone for all of us," said Sizatu.

Source: Voice of America

December 26, 2022

Police arrest suspects during recent interventions

Police members attached to Operation Restore arrested various suspects in Delft on Sunday, 25 December 2022 on charges of dealing in drugs and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The police members pursued information and searched a premises in Bitterhout Street. Upon entering the premises they saw an unknown male who tried to flee the scene. The police members gave chase and apprehended the man, searched him and confiscated a revolver with ammunition that was found in his possession. The members continued to search the house and confiscated drugs and cash. They arrested and detained two males aged 23 and 31 on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition as well as dealing in drugs.

In an unrelated incident the members searched a premises in Wittel Street. The man that was present at home appeared to be nervous and could not respond favourably to the questions from the police members. They confiscated a consignment of drugs and cash and arrested the 59- year-old man on a charge of dealing in drugs.

Once charged the suspects are expected to make their respective court appearances in The Bellville Magistrate court on the mentioned charges.

Source: South African Police Service

December 26, 2022

Anti-gang Unit members arrest suspects in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition

The determination of police members attached to the Anti-Gang unit, deployed in the Strand policing precinct on Sunday, 25 December 2022 to combat the ongoing gang violence paid off when they confiscated three pistols with ammunition in two isolated incidents.

Whilst busy with patrols in Broadlands, they responded to information that led them to an address in Petunia Street. Upon arrival they searched the premises and confiscated two 9mm pistols with ammunition. They arrested and detained a 29-year-old man on a charge of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Meanwhile the same members pursued information indicating that a firearm was stored at an address in Daisy Street. They tactically approached the residence and conducted a thorough search of the entire premises. Their persistence paid off when they confiscated a 9mm pistol with ammunition. They arrested a 17-year-old male on a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Once charged the suspects are expected to make their respective court appearances in the Strand Magistrates’ Court on the mentioned charges.

Source: South African Police Service

December 26, 2022

Police investigates an alleged assault at a resort

Police are investigating an alleged assault of two teenage boys who have been assaulted by a group of males while at a resort in Bloemfontein on Christmas Day.

On 25 December 2022 at about 15:03, Glen SAPS members were called to a fighting incident taking place at a holiday resort in Bloemfontein. On arrival members found the groups already dispersed and were approached by a parent to one of the victims who alleged that his two teenage boys aged 18 and 13 were assaulted by a group of white males over the usage of a swimming pool.

Glen police are investigating a case of assault common and the docket will be taken to court for decision. The suspects who are all white males as seen on the video circulating were warned to appear in court on a date to be set by the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court.

Free State Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Motswenyane said the incident will receive proper attention from the investigating team assigned. "We further condemn the behaviour as reflected on the video." Said the Provincial Commissioner.

Source: South African Police Service

December 26, 2022

Police confiscate firearms and arrest suspects during Operation Vala Konke

Through Operation Vala Konke police in Gqeberha confiscated five firearms and effected three arrests in separate possession of firearm incidents during this festive weekend.

In the first incident, SAPS Kabega Park members arrested a 27-year-old suspect on Saturday, 24 December 2022 while conducting stop and searches in the Kuyga area. It is alleged that at about 22:10, the suspect was spotted walking in Mbangi Road and when he noticed the police van he started to run. He was apprehended and a 9mm pistol and 5 mandrax tablets were found in his possession. He was detained on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm. Ownership of the firearm is yet to be established.

On Sunday, 25 December 2022 at about 18:00, SAPS Gelvandale members also arrested a 25-year-old suspect in possession of a firearm in Dinsmore Road. While patrolling the hotspot area, the suspect was stopped and searched. He is detained on a charge of possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

Also on the same day, 25 December 2022 Anti-Gang Unit members arrested a 39-year-old suspect allegedly found in possession of three firearms and various calibre ammunition. It is alleged that at about 12:30, intelligence information was received and immediately operationalised. The suspect was spotted walking in Stanford Road and was stopped. The suspect immediately threw his bag on the ground. On searching the bag, three firearms (2 shotguns and a 9mm pistol), 2 magazines and 19 rounds of ammunition were seized. The suspect is detained on charges of possession of prohibited firearms and illegal possession of ammunition.

He is expected to appear in the Gqeberha Magistrates’ Court during the week.

Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brig Ronald Koll stressed that the confiscation of these firearms will definitely make an impact on the reduction of serious and violent crimes. ‘Our men and women in blue are out in their numbers ensuring that the citizens of NMB enjoy a safer festive season. Firearms are a massive contributor to violent crimes and we will do everything possible to rid the streets of these dangerous weapons,’ warned Brig Koll.

Source: South African Police Service