Power is in our hands to navigate and better manage energy crisis

Erence Manyako, researcher at the Agricultural Research Council's Natural Resources and Engineering division, looks at available technologies to offset continuous load-shedding in South Africa.

- Erence Manyako

The ongoing rise in energy costs, load shedding as well as environmental concerns associated with the use of coal-fired power stations are the driving forces for agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors to change how energy is consumed. There is a growing interest in energy management, energy efficiency and energy-efficient technologies as a result of escalating energy crisis. In order to deal with the current energy crisis, business at large is realising that energy, like any other resources or raw materials, can be managed. This article focuses on recommending energy-efficient technologies and a way in which energy can be managed to reduce its operational cost to ease the financial burden on consumers – agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors.

FAST FACTS
Implementing energy-efficicient technologies can cut costs and reduce the load on Eskom’s ailing grid.

Use a specialist company to audit your energy usage or do an in-house walk-through to establish potential energy savings.

Avoid leaving equipment on standy and the office lights on overnight.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES

Businesses in the agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors use a variety of technologies, which have been developed over time to be energy efficient. The use of energy-efficient technologies can result in significant cost savings. Some of the energy efficient technologies are discussed below:

Variable speed drives (VSDs): These are designed to control the speed of a motor and work best in equipment where the load varies.