SA's private and public sectors are responding to electricity supply and pricing challenges through a growing move into renewable energy projects, including manufacturing efforts.
Raj Naidoo, MD of Enermatics Energy, says the company is aiding the Gauteng provincial government with its plans to make its numerous buildings more cost- and energy-efficient by installing roof-mounted solar panels. Although the project was announced last year, Naidoo notes the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development has yet to start physical rollout. The estimated cost was R11.2 billion and it aims to generate up to 300MW of electricity.
Mike Cassidy, product manager at Mustek, says the listed company invested around R4.3 million in 1 000 rooftop solar panels, which were installed in July last year. "We wanted to take control of the amount we were spending on power, and since installing the panels, we save around R2.7 million a year in reduced electricity spending." He adds the savings accrued by the company influenced its decision to add solar power installations to its range of offerings for local businesses.
Meanwhile, the Department of Energy has targeted around three million South African households to be powered by solar energy by 2030, as alternative sources add to the national power grid. A total of 47 projects have been awarded 20-year contracts in the R100 billion Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.
Data-driven power
Naidoo says today's data-driven business and consumer technology means people will want a broader understanding of electricity usage patterns - something out of the traditional bounds of information supplied by municipalities. "If I know how much electricity I am consuming over a certain time period and the reasons behind this, it could help change my behaviour towards saving power.
"A lot of power producers carry out their work without optimising their offering for their clients' requirements. A data-driven approach to implementing energy solutions can deliver a lot more value to end-users," he adds.
A company based in Stellenbosch is also forging ahead with its solar panel technology to rival international products. In addition, the Photovoltaic Technology Intellectual Property (PTIP) and the Department of Science and Technology opened Africa's first semi-commercial plant in February - a facility manufacturing thin-film solar electricity panels to meet renewable energy needs.
Traditional solar panels are made of silicon technology which has a thickness of 300 microns, while the PTIP's thin-film module is three microns (0.003mm).
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