CRSES NEXT – Energy and Grid Modelling - CRSES | The Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies

The CRSES Next is at the forefront of cutting-edge research focused on the modelling and optimization of energy systems, particularly in the context of national and regional energy and grid planning.

Research Overview

Our research addresses the challenges presented by the growing integration of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE), Inverter-based Resources (IBR) and Distributed Energy Resources (DER) (e.g., rooftop solar, electric vehicles, and battery energy storage systems) which necessitate significant transformations in energy and network planning.

For energy system modelling, we utilize advanced methodologies and software like PLEXOS and PyPSA to develop sophisticated optimisation models for energy pathways under specific constraints. Our group also places a strong emphasis on transmission grid analysis using tools such as DIgSILENT Powerfactory to enable efficient grid integration of VRE sources such as wind and solar. These efforts address critical challenges related to grid capacity, system stability, and power flow optimization, while exploring full sector energy usage to mitigate the environmental impacts of conventional energy systems. Our research further encompasses distribution network analysis, addressing similar integration challenges at the distribution level, with a focus on hosting capacity assessments, network reinforcement, and load and DER modeling under uncertainty.

Through collaboration with industry, government, and academic partners, we are committed to contributing to a sustainable energy future.

Key Focus Areas

National energy and grid planning
VRE modelling

Grid flexibility
Distribution network planning

Hosting Capacity Assessments
Network Reinforcement Assessments

New Electrification Designs
Long-term power system planning

Projects

Power System and Renewable Energy Integration Modelling
Ongoing

CRSES has been contracted by the Presidential Climate Commission, together with NEDLAC and the Danish Energy Agency, to provide comprehensive modelling services ...
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Stellenbosch University Net Zero Energy Plan
Ongoing

Stellenbosch University, in response to the urgent need for decarbonization, is developing a comprehensive Net Zero Energy Plan to address climate ...
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Eskom Power Engineering Project
Ongoing

The Eskom Power Engineering Project (EPEP) is a Research, Testing, and Development NEC3 Professional Services Contract (PSC3) with Stellenbosch University to conduct ...
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SANEDI JET Research Project
Ongoing

The SANEDI JET Research Project aims to develop advanced grid planning solutions to assist South African municipalities in managing the integration of ...
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Western Cape EV Hosting Capacity Study
Ongoing

This project evaluates the technical feasibility of the region's grid infrastructure to support growing electric vehicle (EV) adoption, with a focus on ...
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NECOM Embedded Generation Integration Project
Completed, 2024

NECOM was established to address the energy crisis in South Africa through various interventions, including new generation capacity (mainly increased deployment ...
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Defossilisation and Power-to-X Allocation Study for South Africa
Ongoing

The PtX Allocation Study is a collaborative project between Fraunhofer IEE and CRSES aimed at developing an open-source, sector-coupled, multi-nodal energy system ...
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Stellenbosch Biomass Power Station – Feasibility Study
Completed, 2024

CRSES, in collaboration with Stellenbosch University investigates the viability of establishing a biomass-to-energy (B2E) power station near Stellenbosch. The proposed project aims ...
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City of Cape Town PV Potential Study
Completed, 2019

This project investigates the impact of increasing photovoltaic (PV) system installations on power networks in the Western Cape, South Africa. Acknowledging the ...
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Research Team

Engineering Lead:

Monique le Roux
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Academic Lead:

Prof Bernard Bekker
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Dr Munyaradzi Justice Chihota
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Warrick Pierce
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Christina Auret
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Josh Dippenaar
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Donald Fitzgerald
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Storm Morison
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Johannes de Bruyn
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Theunis Oosthuizen
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Keith Mupazviriho
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Chantelle van Staden
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Collaborators (and Current Clients)

Academic Publications

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PUBLICATIONS	Category	Date
C. Lewis, K. Wolff and B. Bekker, "Supporting project-based education through a community of practice: a case of postgraduate renewable energy students," World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education, 19(1), pp. 35-40, 2021.	Journal	2021
J. Bierman and B. Bekker, Demand Forecasting Models for Academic Campus Buildings, in 6th IEEE International Energy Conference (ENERGYCON), Gammarth, Tunisia, September 2020.	Conference	2020
J. Bierman and B. Bekker, "Review of Control Strategies for Lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems in Distribution Networks," in 28th Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference (SAUPEC 2020), Cape Town, South Africa, 2020.	Conference	2020
M. J. Chihota and B. Bekker, "Preliminary Tests on the Suitability of the Beta PDF to Model the Residential Load for New Planning Applications," in 28th Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference (SAUPEC 2020), Cape Town, South Africa, 2020.	Conference	2020
M. J. Chihota, L. Buys, C. T. Gaunt and B. Bekker, "Practical Probabilistic Design Procedures for Medium Voltage Distribution Systems," in 2020 International Conference on Probabilistic Methods Applied to Power Systems (PMAPS), Liege, Belgium, August 2020.	Conference	2020
M. J. Chihota, C. T. Gaunt and B. Bekker, "Evaluation of DG impacts on distribution networks," in Uncertainties in Modern Power Systems 1st ed. A. Zobaa and S. A. Aleem, Elsevier, 2020.	Book Chapter	2020
A. Dalton, B. Bekker and M. J. Koivisto, "Simulation and detection of wind power ramps and identification of their causative atmospheric circulation patterns," Electric Power Systems Research, p. 106936, 2020.	Journal	2020
A. Dalton, B. Bekker and M. J. Koivisto, "Atmospheric circulation archetypes as clustering criteria for wind power inputs into probabilistic power flow analysis," in 2020 International Conference on Probabilistic Methods Applied to Power Systems (PMAPS), Liege, Belgium, August 2020.	Conference	2020
W. J. Farmer and A. J. Rix, "Optimising power system frequency stability using virtual inertia from inverter-based renewable energy generation," IET Renewable Power Generation, 14(15), pp. 2820-2829, 2020.	Journal	2020
W. J. Farmer and A. J. Rix, "Modelling a wind turbine as a low-pass filter for wind to electrical power calculations," in 28th Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference (SAUPEC 2020), Cape Town, South Africa, 2020.	Conference	2020
C. Y. Janse van Vuuren, H. J. Vermeulen and M. Groch, "A Self-Organizing Map Approach for Time-of-Use Feature Based Wind Resource Clustering," in the 11th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC), Hammamet, Tunisia, 29-31 October 2020.	Conference	2020
C. Y. Janse van Vuuren, H. J. Vermeulen and M. Groch, "Optimal Geospatial Allocation of Wind Generation Capacity for Grid-Support Objectives," in the 11th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC), Hammamet, Tunisia, 29-31 October 2020.	Conference	2020
D. Lyners, H. J. Vermeulen and M. Groch, "A Multi-Parameter Algorithm for Wind Power Ramp Detection," in the 2nd International Conference on Smart Power & Internet Energy Systems (SPIES 2020), Bangkok, Thailand, 2-4 June 2020.	Conference	2020
J. Mostert and B. Bekker, "Estimating financial viability of behind-the-meter peak shaving based on load profile shape: a shopping mall case study," in 28th Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference (SAUPEC 2020), Cape Town, South Africa, 2020.	Conference	2020
D. Mouton and B. Bekker , "Preliminary analysis of the impact of design-stage uncertainties on the performance of microgrids," in 28th Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference (SAUPEC 2020), Cape Town, South Africa, 2020.	Conference	2020
C. Rhoda, B. Bekker and M. J. Chihota, "Probabilistic Impact Assessment of Residential Charging of Electric Motorcycles on LV Feeders," in 6th IEEE International Energy Conference (ENERGYCON), Gammarth, Tunisia, September 2020.	Conference	2020
R. Takalani and B. Bekker , Load and load growth models for rural microgrids, and how to future-proof designs, in 28th Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference (SAUPEC 2020), Cape Town, South Africa, 2020.	Conference	2020
C. van Dongen and B. Bekker, Potential for New Pumped Storage Schemes in South Africa, in 6th IEEE International Energy Conference (ENERGYCON), Gammarth, Tunisia, September 2020.	Conference	2020
C. van Dongen and B. Bekker, Valuation of pumped storage capacity expansion planning - a South African case study, in 6th IEEE International Energy Conference (ENERGYCON), Gammarth, Tunisia, September 2020.	Conference	2020
E. Weyermüller, H. J. Vermeulen and M. Groch, "Short-Term Load Forecasting using Minimalistic Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference Systems," in 28th Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference (SAUPEC 2020), Cape Town, South Africa, 2020.	Conference	2020
C. Auret, B. Bekker and P. Gauché, "Validation methods for capacity expansion planning models: a review," in 6th Southern African Solar Energy Conference (SASEC 2019), East London, South Africa, SASEC 2019: 1-5, 2019.	Conference	2019
M. J. Chihota, "Extending the Herman-Beta Transform for Probabilistic Load Flow Analysis of Radial Feeders", Ph.D dissertation, Dept. Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, SA, 2019.	Thesis	2019
A. Dalton, B. Bekker and A. C. Kruger, "Wind power variability during the passage of cold fronts across South Africa," Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 30(3), pp.52 – 67, 2019.	Journal	2019
D. J. De Waal and B. Bekker, "A review of contextual frameworks relevant to energy storage on the South African grid," in SAUPEC 2019, Bloemfontein, South Africa, IEEE 2019: 624-628, 2019.	Conference	2019
W. J. Farmer, "Optimising Power System Frequency Stability Using Virtual Inertia From Inverter-based Renewable Energy Generation", Masters thesis, Dept. Electrical Engineering, Stellenbosch University, SA, 2019.	Thesis	2019
W. J. Farmer and A. J. Rix, "Optimising Power System Frequency Stability Using Virtual Inertia from Inverter-based Renewable Energy Generation," in 7th International Conference on Clean Electrical Power (ICCEP 2019), Otranto, Puglia, Italy, 2019.	Conference	2019
M. Groch and H. J. Vermeulen, "Modeling High Wind Speed Shut-Down Events using Meso-Scale Wind Profiles and Survival Analysis," IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 34(6), pp. 4955 – 4963, 2019.	Journal	2019
M. Groch and H. J. Vermeulen, "Short-Term Ensemble NWP Wind Speed Forecasts using Mean-Variance Portfolio Optimization and Neural Networks," in 2019 IEEE International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering and 2019 IEEE Industrial and Commercial Power Systems Europe (EEEIC / I&CPS Europe), Genova, Italy, 2019, pp. 1-6, 2019.	Conference	2019
M. Groch and H. J. Vermeulen, "Ramp-Rate Risk Characterization and Comparison using Survival Theory," in 10th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC), Sousse, Tunisia, 2019, pp. 1-6, 2019.	Conference	2019
M. Groch and H. J. Vermeulen, "Wind Speed Event Forecasting using a Hybrid WRF and ANN model," in 9th International Conference on Power and Energy Systems (ICPES), Perth, Australia, 2019, 2019.	Conference	2019
M. Groch and H. J. Vermeulen, "Multi-Point Locational Wind Speed Estimation from Meso-Scale Wind Speeds for Wind Farm Applications," in 9th International Conference on Power and Energy Systems (ICPES), Perth, Australia, 2019, 2019.	Conference	2019
C. Y. Janse van Vuuren and H. J. Vermeulen, "Clustered Wind Resource Domains for the South African Renewable Energy Development Zones," in 2019 Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference/Robotics and Mechatronics/Pattern Recognition Association of South Africa (SAUPEC/RobMech/PRASA), Bloemfontein, South Africa, 2019, pp. 616-623, 2019.	Conference	2019
C. Y. Janse van Vuuren and H. J. Vermeulen, "Clustering of Wind Resource Data for one of the South African Renewable Energy Development Zones," Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 30(2), p. 126 – 143, 2019.	Journal	2019
C. Y. Janse van Vuuren and H. J. Vermeulen, "Temperature Distributions and Bacterial Growth Implications in a Hot Water Storage Tank under Scheduled Draw-off and Heating Cycles," in IEEE EUROCON 2019 -18th International Conference on Smart Technologies, 2019.	Conference	2019
C. Y. Janse van Vuuren and H. J. Vermeulen, "Wind resource clustering based on statistical Weibull characteristics," SAGE Journals, Wind Engineering, 43(4), p. 359–376, 2019.	Journal	2019
C. Y. Janse van Vuuren, H. J. Vermeulen and J. C. Bekker, "Clustering of Wind Resource Weibull Characteristics on the South African Renewable Energy Development Zones," in 10th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC), Sousse, Tunisia, 2019, pp. 1-7, 2019.	Conference	2019
C. Y. Janse van Vuuren, H. J. Vermeulen and J. C. Bekker, "Optimised Geographical Allocation of Wind Energy Capacity using a Mean-Variance Portfolio Algorithm for Clustered and Unclustered Profiles," in IEEE International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering and 2019 IEEE Industrial and Commercial Power Systems Europe (EEEIC / I&CPS Europe), Genova, Italy, 2019, pp. 1-6, 2019.	Conference	2019
C. Y. Janse van Vuuren, H. J. Vermeulen and M. Groch, "Optimal siting of Wind Energy Capacity for Minimum Residual Load," in Conference on Power and Energy Systems (ICPES), 2019.	Conference	2019
N. Korsten, K. Kritzinger and L. Scholtz, "Understanding solar photovoltaic investment decisions in the residential sector in South Africa: A Technical Analysis," in 27th Technical AMEU Convention, 2019.	Conference	2019
K. Kritzinger and L. Scholtz, "Consumption Patterns in the Residential Electricity Market ; a Decision Making Tool," in In Santiago de Chile: Published by International Solar Energy Society Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Scientific Committee IEA SHC International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry, 2019.	Conference	2019
K. Kritzinger, L. Scholtz and N. Korsten, "Integration of solar energy into the grid: technical or social challenge? Building a collective vision," in 6th Southern African Solar Energy Conference, 2019.	Conference	2019
N. Mararakanye and B. Bekker, "Constraining the intermittency of wind and photovoltaic systems through curtailment," in CIGRE Southern Africa 9th Regional Conference, Muldersdrift, South Africa, 2019.	Conference	2019
N. Mararakanye and B. Bekker, "Renewable energy integration impacts within the context of generator type, penetration level and grid characteristics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 108, pp. 441-451, 2019.	Journal	2019
C. K. Rhoda, M. J. Chihota and B. Bekker, "The impact of distributed hybrid photovoltaic backup systems on shared residential feeders," in 6th Southern African Solar Energy Conference (SASEC 2019), East London, South Africa, SASEC 2019: 1-5, 2019.	Conference	2019
D. Scheepers and J. Beukes, "Monitoring of the service cable PEN conductor to assure bonding using a smart split meter," in Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference/Robotics and Mechatronics/Pattern Recognition Association of South Africa (SAUPEC/RobMech/PRASA), Bloemfontein, South Africa, IEEE 2019: 655 - 660, 2019.	Conference	2019
N. S. L. Simelane Dlamini and B. Bekker, "The uptake and impact of embedded generation installations at large sugar cane estates in Eswatini," in 6th Southern African Solar Energy Conference (SASEC 2019), East London, South Africa, SASEC 2019: 1-5, 2019.	Conference	2019
J. Van der Merwe, C. T. Gaunt, A. J. Rix, K. Kritzinger, M. J. Chichota, A. Steyn, N. Mararakanye and M. Tsholoba, "Impact Assessment of a High Penetration of Rooftop PV in Cape Town," in 27th Technical Convention AMEU Southern Africa, Cape Town, South Africa, 2019.	Conference	2019
L. S. Waswa and B. Bekker, "Estimating installed PV SSEGs on an LV feeder using aggregated load demand data," in Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference/Robotics and Mechatronics/Pattern Recognition Association of South Africa (SAUPEC/RobMech/PRASA), Bloemfontein, South Africa, IEEE 2019: 588-592., 2019.	Conference	2019
	Category	Date

Publicly-accessible Reports

2024 Biomass Report:
B2E-Feasibility-Study-Report

RESEARCH AREA

CRSES NEXT – Energy and Grid Modelling

CRSES NEXT – Energy and Grid Modelling

The CRSES Next is at the forefront of cutting-edge research focused on the modelling and optimization of energy systems, particularly in the context of national and regional energy and grid planning.

Research Overview

Key Focus Areas

Projects

Power System and Renewable Energy Integration Modelling

Stellenbosch University Net Zero Energy Plan

Eskom Power Engineering Project

SANEDI JET Research Project

Western Cape EV Hosting Capacity Study

NECOM Embedded Generation Integration Project

Defossilisation and Power-to-X Allocation Study for South Africa

Stellenbosch Biomass Power Station – Feasibility Study

City of Cape Town PV Potential Study

Research Team

Monique le Roux

Prof Bernard Bekker

Dr Munyaradzi Justice Chihota

Warrick Pierce

Christina Auret

Josh Dippenaar

Donald Fitzgerald

Storm Morison

Johannes de Bruyn

Theunis Oosthuizen

Keith Mupazviriho

Chantelle van Staden

Collaborators (and Current Clients)

Academic Publications

Publicly-accessible Reports

CONTACT US

ADDRESS

FOLLOW

University of Ibadan

University of Ghana

Addis Ababa University