Load shedding

In fact, in many developing countries and emerging markets, a stable power grid is not always guaranteed. You can experience regular power cuts there to prevent the overall grid from collapsing. These planned interruptions, known as load shedding, show how essential and at the same time vulnerable our energy supply can be when demand exceeds supply.

What is load shedding?

Load shedding is the controlled switching off of electricity in certain areas when demand for power exceeds supply. This prevents the entire grid from becoming overloaded and failing altogether.

In practice, this means that a power company or grid operator schedules which regions temporarily receive no power. You can think of it as an emergency measure to protect the grid from a total blackout.

Although load shedding often occurs in countries with outdated or underfunded infrastructure, it can also occur in developed areas if, for example, there is extreme cold, fire or other calamities that disrupt energy supplies.

What are the consequences of load shedding?

Load shedding is essentially an emergency measure to avoid a complete blackout, but that does not mean it does not have adverse effects. Interrupting the power supply at unpredictable times can cause problems for businesses and households.

Interrupted production processes and communications cause economic losses and a drop in productivity. In addition, costs often increase for you as a user, as you may have to invest in emergency power solutions or additional maintenance.

The same is true for society as a whole: when power is regularly lost, confidence in infrastructure declines, inhibiting investment and growth. Moreover, essential facilities, such as hospitals and schools, can come under pressure if they do not have the necessary backup facilities.

With this, load shedding shows that a stable energy grid is essential not only for the comfort of everyday needs and activities, but also for the economic and social development of a country.

Load shedding in South Africa

In South Africa, load shedding has become a recurring phenomenon since December 2014. Although initially limited to a few hours during the evening rush hour, it is now a daily reality. This has a direct impact on the economy: the growth forecast has been revised down to just 2%, down from previous forecasts.

Companies in the manufacturing industry, which rely heavily on a stable power supply, suffer production losses and higher production costs. As power outages become more common, manufacturers, business owners and consumers are forced to look for alternatives, such as backup generators or battery storage systems. These investments in emergency solutions add cost and complexity.

Meanwhile, the uncertain energy supply continues not only to hinder growth and innovation, but also to undermine overall confidence in the country's infrastructure.

The role of Eskom

Eskom is the largest electricity supplier in South Africa and plays a central role in the creation and implementation of load shedding. As a state-owned company, Eskom has struggled for years with aging power plants, inadequate maintenance and financial challenges. These factors often prevent power generation from meeting growing demand, creating the potential for grid overload.

Due to fluctuations in available capacity and peak voltage, Eskom must perform regularly scheduled shutdowns to protect the grid. This is usually done according to a schedule so that residents and businesses can make some preparation.

Yet as a business owner or resident, you remain dependent on a volatile power supply. This uncertainty inhibits both economic growth and investment because stable power supply is a key prerequisite for thriving industry and reliable infrastructure.

Is there a solution to load shedding?

Although load shedding is a complex challenge for many countries, there are certainly solutions and alternatives that can relieve pressure on the power grid.

An important step is to increase generation capacity, for example, by investing in renewable energy solutions such as solar and wind power. These sources not only offer a cleaner way to generate electricity, but they also reduce dependence on fossil fuels and centrally controlled power suppliers.

In addition, battery storage systems, such as Frax's innovative plug-and-play BESS solutions, allow you to better respond to peak voltages and fluctuations in electricity consumption.

By storing energy at times of excess capacity and deploying it at a later time, you gain more control over your own energy supply. This reduces the risk of grid overload and provides a more stable power supply, even in areas where the infrastructure cannot always meet demand.

Should we worry about load shedding in Europe?

The likelihood of large-scale load shedding in Europe is currently low. Europe's energy infrastructure is generally well developed and intensively monitored and maintained. As a result, the supply of electricity almost always remains in balance with demand. Moreover, many countries on the European continent work closely together through grid interconnections, allowing shortages in one area to be met by additional capacity from another area.

Still, it is wise to stay alert. Extreme weather conditions or other unforeseen situations can also put pressure on the grid. Investing in alternative energy sources and innovative battery storage systems, such as those offered by Frax, will keep the energy grid more resilient to peak and emergency situations. So you can rely on a stable and continuous energy supply with peace of mind.