Transformer at a substation in Brixton, Johannesburg catches fire due to overloading

News Flash

  • The Northcliff Melville Times reports that a transformer at a substation in Brixton, Johannesburg, caught fire on Sunday evening. 
  • The cause is believed to be overloading.

City Power Spokesperson Isaac Mangena said: “The substation burnt last night due to overload on the transformer.” City Power contractors will assess the damage and repairs needed to restore power to the area which could take up to five days.

While it is unknown what caused the overloading, grid-connected solar PV systems can cause overloading due to reverse power flow, which degrades the life of distribution transformers. Link to this study which investigates transformer overload issues due to reverse power flow in a low-voltage network with high PV penetration.

Author: Bryan Groenendaal

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