Vodacom has revealed plans to build the largest single solar array in Africa, at its Century City offices in Cape Town.
The company is fitting the building with nearly 2 000 mono crystalline solar panels, which will cover the 3 600m2 roof area.
Suraya Hamdulay, executive head of corporate citizenship at Vodacom, says the position of the Century City rooftop is ideal for generating a high yield of solar power throughout the year. “This is a prime example of how business can take the lead in promoting renewable energy solutions.”
The photovoltaic array will be completed by August and is expected to provide up to 75% of all the power (500 kilo-watt peak) required by the building during peak production. The office currently uses 650kWp of power from the municipality. Vodacom says the power produced will feed into the two main distribution boards and a display panel, installed in the reception area of the building, will display instantaneous power yield, energy yield and carbon emission savings.
According to Hamdulay, Vodacom has invested R10 million in the project. “It is a bit difficult with the rising price of electricity to establish exactly when the project will pay for itself, but current predictions are around seven years.
“Also, the benefits this project will have on the environment cannot be set out in monetary terms,” she adds.
Hamdulay says the project is part of Vodacom's ongoing drive to reduce the amount of energy it consumes. To date the company has reduced energy inputs by 12% per base station across the Vodacom group.
“Our target is to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 31 March 2013, which will translate into an estimated 79 000t saving,” says Hamdulay.
She adds that Vodacom is on track with this goal, achieving a 5% reduction per year since 2009.
The solar array project follows the construction of Vodafone's Site Solutions Innovation Center in Midrand, a joint venture between Vodacom and its parent company, Vodafone, to explore ways in which Vodafone can implement additional cost efficiencies and reduce carbon emissions worldwide.
“We are continually on the lookout for new ways of reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions,” concludes Hamdulay.
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