South Africa’s energy crisis is not entirely unique, as the rest of the world is also struggling to secure enough energy supply. However, how South Africa is uniquely troubled is that we are almost entirely dependent on a failed state-owned power utility that does not have the money or the resources to keep the lights on. As a result, we have been subjected to more load shedding in 2022 than in any year prior.
How can businesses survive and even thrive when the lights are out? Here are some tips on how you can potentially overcome the seemingly insurmountable problem of energy scarcity in South Africa.
Implement Backup Power
This may seem quite obvious, but it is essential for your business’s survival to implement backup power so that your business can continue operating when the lights go out. There are many options for backup power available, and which one you choose will depend on a number of factors such as availability, upfront cost and return on investment.
The cheapest option in terms of upfront capex is the diesel or petrol generator. These are relatively affordable but are very noisy and harmful to the environment as they produce significant emissions. What’s more, the operating cost of a generator is high owing to the high cost of petrol or diesel.
A far more cost-effective option ‒ insofar as operating costs are concerned ‒ is the solar and inverter setup. However, this solution requires high upfront capex, which can be prohibitive for many people. The benefit is that the operating cost is virtually zero, and the return on investment is significant.
Monitor Your Use
Monitoring and measuring your electricity usage is a very important part of making sure that you remain in business amid the ongoing energy crisis. At Energy Management Solutions, we specialise in helping you monitor and reduce your energy consumption. We have remote metering technologies that help you to manage and monitor your energy consumption in real-time.
We also have technologies that help reduce your energy consumption and optimise your operations as much as possible ‒ even when using a backup power supply such as solar or generators.
Regardless of your setup, you need to be constantly aware of your energy usage so that you know how much backup power to install to cover your operating needs.
Adjust Accordingly
Once you’ve taken stock of your energy use, you need to make adjustments accordingly. Strip away whatever wasteful energy consumption you can and ensure that your operations are running at maximum efficiency. You might need to bring in the experts to advise and guide you throughout the process, but that is what we are here for!
If you’re looking for ways to maximise your business’s energy efficiency, then contact us at Energy Management Solutions today! We have the right tools and knowledge to help you survive the energy crisis.