Eskom ramps up diesel generators to keep up with high power demand

Eskom says the national grid is strained by high demand and inclement weather set to continue until Wednesday. The latest data from Eskom shows the power utility ramped up its use of open cycle gas turbines since Wednesday last week.

“Loadshedding remains suspended, however, the power system is constrained due to ongoing increased planned maintenance and high electricity demand driven by overcast weather conditions nationwide,” said Eskom in a statement published on Friday.

They clarified that the system remains stable and that they have “sufficient emergency reserves in place to manage peak demand”

The latest publicly available data from Eskom shows that since last Tuesday, Eskom has suffered major unplanned outages (blue columns in the graphic) and had subsequently ramped up their use of open cycle gas turbines (red line) which use diesel fuel to generate electricity. But, as unplanned outages were reduced since Thursday, Eskom continued to make use of diesel generators to meet high electricity demand going into Friday.

“Eskom has spent R3.4 billion on diesel over the past 30 days, representing a 2.1% decrease compared to the previous 30-day period,” Eskom said in their Friday statement. This comes as Eskom continues on its planned maintenance in anticipation of high demand for the coming winter.

The power utility promised to share their winter plans “in due course.”

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