“Overalls are optional”

“The operative word this year is definitely ‘practical’ and there simply is no substitute for onsite experience”, says a very excited African Utility Week event director Russell Hughes.  “I want to invite our expo visitors to come and get their hands dirty while earning some valuable CPD points – overalls are optional!”  

Some 5 000 power & water professionals from all over the continent will attend Africa’s leading  power & water exhibition and conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 14-15 May, where power utility Eskom CE Brian Dames will once again deliver the keynote address.

By the industry, for the industry
Says Hughes:   “We have had extensive consultations with the utility industry, associations such as CESA, SAIEE, SAICE and SAIMechE, and the leading solution providers, and it is clear there is a real need for practical information and hands on training, based on real life projects, case studies, development and research.”

He continues:  “We offer a tailored selection of 60 free to attend technical workshops which offer 1 CPD accreditation point per day. They will offer practical take home solutions, demonstrations and practice installation opportunities for electricians, engineers and other power professionals in the metering, water, transmission and distribution, smart grids, hydro and renewable energy sectors.  These workshops allow companies to up skill their teams in two focused days and help to increase productivity, energy efficiency and become more aware of what is available in the market in terms of technology and other solutions.”

Exhibitor highlights include installations by ADC Energy, ZEST, Powertech, Schneider Electric, Gamesa, AEG, Solar World, Andritz, Cummins, Itron, Bentley Systems and Eskom’s Grid Access Unit.

Up to 2 CPD credits can be earned by attending the technical workshops on the African Utility Week expo floor with topics including:
•  Generation/Transmission & Distribution:
Type test certification for T&D components for a reliable power network  
•  Transformers:
Integrating condition monitoring into a reliability centred maintenance strategy
•  Substations:
Predictive maintenance for metal clad MV switchgear
•  Metering:  
Pros and cons of unified AMR solutions for electricity and water remote reading of meters
•  Water:
Best use practices in data acquisition and web based water loss management systems
•  Large Power Users:
Cogeneration / power plants – new product development in turbine technology

Outdoor exhibition
New this year is the only outdoor exhibition for the power & water industry with an exclusive outdoor expo area on MV products and automation equipment by Schneider Electric which will address equipment reliability and maintenance needs and companies can learn how to make the most out of their energy and receive a free full solution guide on all MV products.

Clean Power Africa
The co-located Clean Power Africa exhibition will enable companies to fulfil their energy generation capacity needs with the full power spectrum.  The solar component of the expo has grown by over 300%, and companies such as Gamesa, Shannon Energy, Kaco, AEG, SMA, Solar World, Soventix and DuPont will displaying their state of the art technology.

Topics of the free CPD-accredited technical workshops on renewable energy include:
- Tips on how to become more energy efficient in your business
- How to identify the challenges facing the building of renewable projects
- Retrofitting hydropower to South African dams
- Constructing monitoring in PV and Wind
- Compliance of Solar PV installation with the new Renewable Grid Code

www.african-utility-week.com