Polokwane 2010 Fwc Event

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POLOKWANE 2010 FWC EVENT

NETWORK PREPARATIONS

Infrastructure Upgrading

• Polokwane main substation (Beta 66/11 kV) did not have sufficient capacity. An additional 20 MVA transformer had to be installed.
• The supply from Beta sub to the stadium was too small and unreliable. A proper supply from Beta sub including a distribution station and supply cables had to be installed.
• A distribution system had to be established in the stadium precinct area.
• Parking areas and new streets around the stadium had to be illuminated with proper area lighting and street lighting systems.
• The area to be used as the FIFAFanFestPark did not have sufficient electricity. Additional mini-substations had to be installed.
• Second Eskom Supply to Polokwane.

Although the 2nd Eskom supply to Polokwane was not a 2010 FWC specific project, Polokwane did no longer have a firm supply from Eskom. Loosing one of the Eskom lines to Polokwane would result in a total black out of Polokwane. Hence the second Eskom supply to Polokwane had to be completed before the Soccer World Cup event.

Infrastructure Maintenance

Proper maintenance had to be done on the Polokwane system to improve its reliability.

• Beta Substation

Beta substation was established in 1975. Although it had been upgrade over the past few years, the 66 kV yard was virtually replaced.

• Alpha substation (Eskom primary supply to Polokwane) 4 x 35 year old 66 kV circuit breakers, CT’s and VT’s were replaced.

• Proper maintenance of the Polokwane 11 kV and LT systems were done especially those systems that would supply hotels, lodges and other visitors’ overnight facilities.

Network Operations

• Critical spares were acquired well in advance.
• The vehicle fleet reliability was improved by new purchases and maintenance of existing vehicles.
• Electricity staff did standby duty during the whole duration of the event. During match days senior staff were placed in key installations.

Supply Availability

Polokwane had no interruption of supply to any of the critical sites during the FWC event.

A few interruptions occurred in residential areas in Polokwane, but these were restored very quickly.

Risks

• A risk materialized with regards to the Stadium pitch lighting.

There was a difference of interpretation of the definition of the pitch lighting levels required between the FIFA consultants and Host City Stadium consultants.

It was too late to install additional pitch lighting on the stadium.

As a mitigating measure, the voltage taps on all pitch light luminaire were lowered to obtain higher outputs from existing luminaries. As this action would shorten the life of luminaire lamps, correct voltage taps were set after the event. Hot restrike lamps which were install to meet FIFA requirement of minimum lighting levels during a change over of supply, introduced harmonics and an instability of supply.

As a mitigating measure, Polokwane had to do a last minute installation of harmonic filters to have a clean stable supply to the pitch lighting.

Key Lessons Learnt

1.Supply capacities

There was an oversupply of electricity to all the sites. The table below indicates the installed capacities versus actual loads taken during match days.

The fact that host cities had to provide supply points free of charge did not promote accurate, careful planning by the LOC consultants. Hence, a much larger supply than what was actually needed was requested from host cities just to be “on the safe side”.

2.System Maintenance

No, or very few interruptions of supply during the FWC event were to a large extent as a result of the proper planned maintenance done beforehand by Eskom and host cities on the critical networks.

A lesson learnt was definitely that proper planned maintenance contributes to good quality electricity.

3.Hot Restrike Pitch Lighting

Hot restrike lamps are a new development in illumination engineering.

Although Polokwane was assured by the supplier of the lamps that the quality of supply would not be affected by hot restrike lamps, Polokwane experienced serious harmonic distortions. A lot of money had to be spent on harmonic filters.

A lesson learnt was that proper planning should be done where hot restrike lamps are used.

Legacy Issues

1. Infrastructure upgrading work in Polokwane will not go unused after the FWC event.

A private hospital is being established not far from the Peter Mokaba stadium. The 10 MVA supply to the hospital will be fed from the newly installed infrastructure.

2.The Fan Fest Park installations will be used in future for cultural events and musical festivals.

3.The stadium pitch lighting will be supplied from the municipal grid with the 800 kVA generator as a back up supply. It works out cheaper provided that the Peter Mokaba Stadium is supplied at the Polokwane Off Peak Tariff (under the Off Peak Tariff, a customer pays a Maximum Demand charge only during the Polokwane electricity peak which is between 08h00 and 14h00. The stadium pitch lighting should therefore never be switched on during those hours.