Integration of demand side and supply side energy management resources for optimal scheduling of demand response loads – South Africa in focus

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. The energy crisis of 2008 in South Africa, due to electricity demand surpassing supply and a depleted electricity reserve margin has exposed the need for more synergy between home energy management systems (HEMS) and supply side energy management systems (SSEMS). Demand side management (DSM) techniques have been investigated and proven to be viable means of regulating electricity demand from the consumer side. However, the viability of DSM is dependent on the participation of willing consumers. In this paper, a combined energy management system (CEMS) is proposed to provide a platform for incorporating the demands and constraints of consumers (time of dispatch, reduction of electricity costs, etc.) and suppliers (reduced operations cost, reduced emissions, etc.). The proposed CEMS utilizes dynamic pricing (DP) and a standard deviation biased genetic algorithm (SDBGA) in minimizing the DSM window to be allocated to the DSM loads of consumers based on the multi-objective constraints. The Medupi power plant which has been modelled to utilize carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology is used in carrying out the dispatch of the participating DSM loads (cloth washers, cloth dryers and dish washers) for 100,000 random residential customers. Results show that in dispatch option 1 (in which the user is in control of the start time), a lower cost of electricity of ZAR 373,218.40 is obtained compared to ZAR 416,280.20 by dispatch option 2 (in which the utility selects dispatch time for participating DSM loads) for the consumers. However, dispatch option 2 achieves a better minimized DSM window (14.94 MW), lower operating cost (about 1.6% lower than dispatch option 1), higher plant capacity utilization (87.92% efficiency) and a more evenly distributed profile

Electrons have no identity: Setting right misrepresentations in Google and Apple's clean energy purchasing

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Aside dedicated generation, transmission and distribution networks, the hype around corporations and other entities purchasing so called clean energy may be considered a deliberate accounting misrepresentation. To illustrate this case in this short perspective, we begin by explaining the technical difficulties of remaining “renewables pure”. We then give case studies of two organisations – Apple Inc. and Google LLC – who are, arguably, at fault of making such claims. The method is a simple, non-systematic comparison between what is technically possible, and what is claimed to be possible. Given that incongruous renewables claims have the potential to further impoverish vulnerable households who must bear the financial costs of renewables integration, we conclude that a successful decarbonisation pathway must not have selective winners or losers

Relationship Between Strategic Dexterity, Absorptive Capacity, and Competitive Advantage

Small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) manufacturing executives and managers are concerned with the rapid technological changes involving artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data. To compete in the global landscape, effectively managing digital and artificial intelligence changes among SME manufacturing executives and managers is critical for leaders to compete in 2023 and beyond. Grounded in the dynamic capabilities view theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to examine the relationship between strategic dexterity, absorptive capacity, and competitive advantage. The participants were 66 executives and managers of SME manufacturing organizations who use big data and analytics daily and agreed to complete the AI Analytics Survey Questionnaire using Wu et al.’s survey. The results of the multiple linear regression were significant F(2, 63) = 54.29, p \u3c .001, R2 = .63. In the final model, both predictors were significant: strategic dexterity (t = 2.48, p = .02, ß = .391) and absorptive capacity (t = 2.61, p = .01, ß = .439). A key recommendation is for SME manufacturing executives and managers to understand how to integrate, build, and orchestrate their strategic digital assets when implementing absorptive capacity strategies within their organization. The implications for positive social change include the potential to provide SME manufacturing executives and managers with an understanding of how these technologies can be integrated into the future of data analytics and automation, the support towards a digital economy, and the social effects of artificial intelligence on the underserved and underrepresented groups

Children's online safety in Nigeria: the government's critical role

Recent research by Project Open Eyes in Lagos, Nigeria has found that while nine out of 10 teenagers have access to the internet and three out of four have made friends with strangers online, there remains a very low level of digital literacy and a lack of regulatory protection at the state level. In this post Chukwuemeka Monyei calls for a more sustained effort by the government to improve digital literacy initiatives and increase funding for ICT education, equipment and infrastructure. Chukwuemeka is the co-founder of Project Open Eyes, a social project which aims to promote a sustained, inclusive campaign about children and media. He is a practicing lawyer and adjunct lecturer at the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School where he teaches Corporate Law practice

Reducing Carbon Footprint Using Renewable Energy, Distributed Generation and Smart Government Policies

With continued and increased global outcry to the insidious effects of continued exploitation of fossil fuels and gas flaringon the environment as evidenced by climate change, attention has in recent times be turned to alternative and more efficientmeans of energy generation that pose less threats or damage to the environment. Utilizing such alternative means of energygeneration has seen an increase in technological advancements as regards exploitation of such natural elements as sunlight,wind, tides, hydro etc. in meeting our varied energy demands. These alternative energy sources commonly referred to asrenewable energy sources (RES) now constitute the global trend as not only are they providing access to clean energy indistant and remote areas, but also redefining the way our electricity grid now works. With the enormous problems associatedwith centralized generation and transmission of electricity vis-à-vis line losses and system reliability, coupled with theinability of the grid to effectively cover every nook and cranny of the country, attention is being put on practical andeffective means and ways of integrating these RES into our electricity network. One of such means that have been evolved isDistributed Generation (DG) which seeks to decentralize electricity generation and displace demand by generating at loadcentres. Acting as stand-alone systems, their presence in Nigeria is gradually beginning to be felt. This paper seeks toexamine the impact of RES and DG in select cities around the world in addressing issues of poverty eradication, climatechange, transmission line losses etc., while also appraising the impact government policies have had in influencing theirgrowth. Existing policies on renewable energy and DG (if any) in Nigeria would be reviewed while solutions would also beproffered as Nigeria strives to meet the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 2015, especially endingextreme hunger and poverty.Keywords: insidious, environment, climate change, renewable energy, distributed generation, policies, poverty, hunger

Modelling of artificial intelligence based demand side management techniques for mitigating energy poverty in smart grids.

Doctoral degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This research work proposes an artificial intelligence (AI) based model for smart grid initiatives (for South Africa and by extension sub-Saharan Africa, (SSA)) and further incorporates energy justice principles. Spanning the social, technical, economic, environmental, policy and overall impact of smart and just electricity grids, this research begins by investigating declining electricity consumption and demand side management (DSM) potential across South Africa. In addition, technical frameworks such as the combined energy management system (CEMS), co-ordinated centralized energy management system (ConCEMS) and biased load manager home energy management system (BLM-HEMS) are modelled. These systems provide for the integration of all aspects of the electricity grid and their optimization in achieving cost reduction for both the utility and consumers as well as improvement in the consumers quality of life (QoL) and reduction of emissions. Policy and economy-wise, this research work further proposes and models an integrated electrification and expansion model (IEEM) for South Africa, and also addresses the issue of rural marginalization due to poor electricity access for off-grid communities. This is done by proposing a hybrid generation scheme (HGS) which is shown to satisfy sufficiently the requirements of the energy justice framework while significantly reducing the energy burden of households and reducing carbon emissions by over 70%

Relationship Between Strategic Dexterity, Absorptive Capacity, and Competitive Advantage

Small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) manufacturing executives and managers are concerned with the rapid technological changes involving artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data. To compete in the global landscape, effectively managing digital and artificial intelligence changes among SME manufacturing executives and managers is critical for leaders to compete in 2023 and beyond. Grounded in the dynamic capabilities view theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to examine the relationship between strategic dexterity, absorptive capacity, and competitive advantage. The participants were 66 executives and managers of SME manufacturing organizations who use big data and analytics daily and agreed to complete the AI Analytics Survey Questionnaire using Wu et al.’s survey. The results of the multiple linear regression were significant F(2, 63) = 54.29, p \u3c .001, R2 = .63. In the final model, both predictors were significant: strategic dexterity (t = 2.48, p = .02, ß = .391) and absorptive capacity (t = 2.61, p = .01, ß = .439). A key recommendation is for SME manufacturing executives and managers to understand how to integrate, build, and orchestrate their strategic digital assets when implementing absorptive capacity strategies within their organization. The implications for positive social change include the potential to provide SME manufacturing executives and managers with an understanding of how these technologies can be integrated into the future of data analytics and automation, the support towards a digital economy, and the social effects of artificial intelligence on the underserved and underrepresented groups

Energy (in)justice in off-grid rural electrification policy: South Africa in focus

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Generally speaking, increasing rural marginalisation in sub-Saharan Africa has sat alongside a rise in energy poor homes in rural off-grid communities. Even measures meant to improve electricity access have exacerbated the energy access gap between grid connected and off-grid homes. For example, the South African Non-Grid Electrification Policy Guidelines for electrifying off-grid, rural poor homes promote the adoption of Solar Home Systems (SHS), which are expected to produce 7.5 kWh/month on average. However, for poor homes within grid coverage, the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) programme allocates 50 kWh/month. This paper investigates the resulting disparity in terms of electricity cost (ZAR/kWh), including associated costs for heating, cooking and other needs. It does so through the energy justice framework, highlighting the mismatch in policy formulation (procedural injustice), resource distribution (distributive injustice) and spatial distribution (injustice in the recognition of population groups’ special needs). Through a combination of mathematics and social science perspectives, it then moves beyond a critique of the current SHS system to proposes a new one: a hybrid generation approach with a flexible pricing scheme and centralized system of operation that is both ethically compliant and capable of improving electricity access to off-grid communities with standards comparable to grid access

Strategic Agility: A prospect for sustainable performance of micro-businesses in South-Eastern Nigeria

Purpose: To investigate the role strategic agility plays in the sustainable performance of micro-businesses, while specifically, it sort to examine the link between micro-businesses decision-making and technology adoption in South-eastern Nigeria Research methodology: A survey research method was adopted with a population quoted at 210 Micro-business registered owners in South-eastern Nigeria. The sample size of 136 was arrived at using Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) formula. A questionnaire set was designed for data collection and analyzed using the Linear Regression Statistics at a 5% level of significance. Results: Decision-making and technology adoption have a statistical significant relationship with Micro-businesses in South-eastern Nigeria (R2 = .959; F = 1180.390; p-value < 0.05). Limitations: The study did not cover all the five states in the region where the study was conducted. Contribution: The study excruciates strategic agility's role, its prospect for Micro-businesses, and its link with sustainable performance in a turbulent and dynamic business environment

Nigeria's energy poverty: Insights and implications for smart policies and framework towards a smart Nigeria electricity network

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd A thorough and exhaustive review of relevant literature and associated works is carried out to critically examine energy poverty in Nigeria with respect to ownership and income. Using the desktop approach and empirical formulas, the persistent failure of public infrastructure like healthcare, education and security to the poor electricity generation, transmission and distribution capacity in the country is examined; alongside current government's contribution to buoying our generation capacity and electricity access through policies and investment. The findings of the review reveal the urgent need for the smart roll out of distributed generation units in order to stimulate and encourage the ongoing diversification of the economy and also the need for a sustainable road map that incorporates the successes of countries faced with similar challenges. This review paper also proposes the need for palliatives in form of subsidized solar home systems (SHSs) through a sustainable and economically viable means for off grid homes to assuage the effects of non-availability of grid electricity