Page 7 - Energize October 2021

COVER STORY

pneumatic control valves in power plants. It is critical that there is no until the wind farm is up and running, giving the customer the benefit
oil or moisture in the air as this could cause unscheduled downtime, of its technology and service excellence.
which is very costly from a productivity, time and financial perspective.
There has also been a significant shift in the power production ‘Masters of knowledge’ for customers’ power-related
sector in favour of the use of Class 0 oil-free compressors: “Our requirements
customers have become increasingly aware of the risks involved with The global trend towards sustainability and decarbonisation has driven
any oil or contaminant carry-over, and the eradication of this potential companies to search for fuel-efficient solutions, putting power products
issue means that the hire of the Class 0 oil-free compressors – because front and centre in many vertical industries across the globe, including
of their ability to produce clean, pure, contaminant-free dry air – has in the power sector.
become almost the default industry standard today.” Knowledge in this field is therefore essential for companies
such as Rand-Air as customers who require generators and all other
Assisting with customers’ prime power set-ups electrically-driven equipment require the right advice, based on high
Thorne explains: “Even though we supply standby generators, Rand- levels of knowledge and power-related expertise, also referred to in
Air’s focus, as part of the Atlas Copco Speciality Rental (ASR) division this context as ‘power competence’.
has always been on the prime power market. “It is for this reason,” says Thorne, “that we participated recently in
To this end, we have offered our customers – including those a global Competence Development Programme (CDP), recognising that
in the renewable energy sector – an Atlas Copco ‘TwinPower’ we needed to upskill our own power competence, and our approach to
containerised generator solution, featuring two 500 kVA generators customers’ power-related requirements.
in each container.” The course, also known as Megawatt Masters, was specifically
This containerised generator solution gives a very compact designed to educate Atlas Copco Specialty Rental division’s sales teams
footprint, unrivalled versatility, optimised performance and excellent worldwide, boosting their technical competence and knowledge of
fuel economy in demanding modular power plant (MPP) applications. the company’s power products range, applications and related market
In addition, the two modules inside the container can be synchronised opportunities.
so that it is possible to supply either 1100 kVA or 550 kVA – a versatile “The training consists of a range of modules on different levels,
and portable cost- and fuel-saving option for the customer. including master’s sessions, where an international network of experts
“Our popular TwinPower generator provides power capacity which consults as a team. The Megawatt Masters training will therefore assist
can conveniently be adapted to suit the customer’s needs. Therefore, Rand-Air team members to more accurately align our solutions with
when they do not need to run the whole plant, one generator can be customers’ current and longer-term power requirements – including in
used. If they need to top up power thereafter, they can run the second the power sector,” he adds.
generator. Our TwinPower generator is thereby an extremely fuel-
efficient solution for a customer’s prime power set-up requirements.” A ‘powerful partnership’ for the future
“At Rand-Air, we are always open to new ways of servicing our
Lighting towers and power generation: a renewable energy customers’ power-related needs, striving continually to give them the
case study most effective solutions for their unique requirements,” says Thorne.
“We have definitely seen an increase in the demand for renewable “With regards to the energy sector, we aim to continue supplying
energy sources such as wind and solar farm projects – both for the its ongoing power requirements needs whenever, and wherever,
development and maintenance of these facilities – in the Northern and required. We remain in close contact with this key industry segment as
Western Cape provinces,” says Thorne. its first choice of rental when it comes to any compressor, generator,
“For example, we have been closely involved in supplying rental pumps, or lighting tower enquiries.
equipment for the start-up phase of a wind farm in a remote and In this way, we will continue playing our part in helping to create
quite inaccessible area of the Eastern Cape. This wind farm project and maintain a more stable and reliable national power supply in
forms part of a 700 MW wind capacity renewable tender which, when South Africa, be it from conventional, grid-based or renewable sources,
completed and running at full capacity, will generate more than 460 moving forward,” he concludes. n
GWh of clean electricity, annually. The project involves the erection of
46 wind turbines in this remote area of the country,” he says. Contact Byrone Thorne, Rand-Air, Tel 011 345-0700,
Wind turbines, being immense, are manufactured in sections or byrone.thorne@randair.com
modules and then assembled close to the project site. The contractor
on the project responsible for assembling the different components of
the massive turbines, generally works at night, when the site is cleared
of riggers and the wind shear factor is lower.
Through its Durban branch, Rand-Air supplied 12 QLV lighting
towers as well as portable power for the on-site offices, in the form of
four 60 kVA generators, complete with distribution (DB) boards for use
in the on-site assembly of the wind turbines.
“The customer was very impressed that Rand-Air is fully ISO-
certified, as well as with our in-depth safety inductions with the entire
turbine assembly crew plus Rand-Air’s own technicians. The customer
was also very satisfied with the team’s technical qualifications and
competency levels,” Thorne comments.
The rental contract remains ongoing and Rand-Air will be on-site

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