Abstract

Erratic electricity through scheduled power outages, also known as load shedding, has had different impacts on the livelihoods and businesses in South Africa. This has forced organisations with vital businesses and critical electricity infrastructure to opt for alternative, reliable power supplies. Using a suitable case study, we developed an adapted transportation model that could be used to allocate and distribute electricity at a minimal cost. Firstly, a current state analysis was performed to allow the feasibility of allocating electricity to specific load or demand points. After the model development, the feasibility and benefits of implementing alternative power sources, such as solar, were assessed. The transportation model was solved using commercial solvers to obtain a total cost of R408.66 for allocating electricity to all the required loads for one hour of load shedding. Compared to the current state of only generator usage, this was a 34% decrease in company expenditure for one hour of load shedding. What-if and Sensitivity analyses were conducted to investigate the feasibility of the solar power installation and the effect of changes in input parameters on the total cost of electricity allocation. Recommendations to increase the impact of the findings on similar industries being affected by the just energy transition are discussed