Please use another Browser

It looks like you are using a browser that is not fully supported. Please note that there might be constraints on site display and usability. For the best experience we suggest that you download the newest version of a supported browser:

Internet Explorer, Chrome Browser, Firefox Browser, Safari Browser

Continue with the current browser
Press Release12 October 2021Siemens AGMunich

Grid Edge technologies take centre stage as South Africa moves to avert an electricity crisis

These developments are highlighting a change of perspective in the global energy landscape. In the past, companies have mainly focused on the grid – the regulated side of the medal; however, the rising need for sustainability as well as new technologies is shifting focus to the other side of the coin: to buildings, prosumers and consumers. 
To explore grid edge technologies and solutions, Siemens South Africa, in collaboration with EE Business Intelligence, is hosting a Grid Edge Virtual Symposium on Thursday 14 October 2021 from 09h30 to 11h30 SAST (GMT+2). 
The virtual symposium will be moderated by Chris Yelland, MD at EE Business Intelligence, and the opening keynote presentation will be made by Sabine Dall'Omo, CEO of Siemens Southern and Eastern Africa, and President of Siemens Smart Infrastructure.
“The interlinking of existing smart technologies for grids, buildings and industrial automation, is creating a new dimension in the sustainable energy landscape; this is what we at Siemens call the ‘grid edge’. The major building blocks for grid edge include decentralized energy solutions, renewable integration, grid-interactive buildings, energy storage and eMobility charging infrastructure, these are topics that have become fundamental to addressing South Africa’s energy crisis and transition” said Sabine Dall’Omo CEO of Siemens Southern and Eastern Africa.
Solutions at the grid edge could enable domestic, commercial, industrial, mining, agricultural and transportation entities to optimise their energy efficiency and consumption. They empower customers and prosumers to intelligently integrate renewables, and to take control of their energy supply.
Grid edge technologies also support infrastructure for eMobility expansion, where electric vehicles (EVs) may be connected to the grid as distributed energy storage entities. When connected at the grid edge, EVs may be charged from the grid as a consumer and generate electricity back into the grid as a producer when so required.
“As delays and gaps in public procurement processes for new generation capacity in South Africa in terms of the country’s Integrated Resource Plan for electricity IRP 2019 become clearer, grid edge technologies are beginning to take center stage. Customers are realising that they need to take control and responsibility for their own energy future, and become part of the solution”, said Chris Yelland, managing director at EE Business Intelligence.
By working at the grid edge, the relationships between consumption, production and storage are redefined. Digitalization and new business models are helping manage complex energy flows and the interplay between production and consumption –increase the energy system’s flexibility and reliability.
Grid edge solutions are therefore accelerating the transition towards a lower-carbon future and transforming today’s energy landscape to create a more caring environment.
Additional Information  
Presenters at the Grid Edge Virtual Symposium include:
  • Guenther Fleischer, Siemens Business Developer, and global expert for Smart Infrastructure.
  • Deon Henriksen, Siemens Smart Infrastructure Vice President for Digital Grid and Distribution Systems.       
  • Marco Rahner, Siemens South Africa Smart Infrastructure Sales Director and technical portfolio expert.
  • Christian Pohl, Siemens global Business Development Manager - Sustainability and Decarbonisation.

Topics that will be covered at the Grid Edge Virtual Symposium include:
  • The role and future of Grid Edge in the South African market.     
  • Smart integration of renewable energy resources
  • Distributed energy solutions for local energy supply      
  • Enabling Grid Edge technologies through Power Electronics     
  • eMobility charging infrastructure     
  • Smart Infrastructure for Industry and Independent Power Producers        
  • Software Solutions at the Grid Edge

For this press release

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability, and internationality for more than 170 years. Active around the world, the company focuses on intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems and on automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries. Siemens brings together the digital and physical worlds to benefit customers and society. Through Mobility, a leading supplier of intelligent mobility solutions for rail and road transport, Siemens is helping to shape the world market for passenger and freight services. Via its majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, Siemens is also a world-leading supplier of medical technology and digital health services. In addition, Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy, a global leader in the transmission and generation of electrical power that has been listed on the stock exchange since September 28, 2020. In fiscal 2020, which ended on September 30, 2020, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €57.1 billion and net income of €4.2 billion. As of September 30, 2020, the company had around 293,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
Read more

Contact

Althea Borman

Siemens AG

300 Janadel Avenaue                              Halfway Gardens
Midrand, 1685

+27 71 360 8873