From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.
Sashnee Moodley:
Emperors Palace, in Boksburg, Gauteng is underway with construction of one of the largest rooftop solar photovoltaic plants in South Africa. Completion of the rooftop plant is set for August this year. Mia Breytenbach tells us more.
Mia Breytenbach:
The solar PV initiative, which focuses on power generation, is one of several greening initiatives, which has been undertaken at Emperors Palace. It forms part of the dedicated sustainability programme to reduce energy and water consumption, decrease waste and promote recycling. The plant will cover about 7 265 m2 of the current roof space. It is expected to generate about 1.9 MWh/y (Megawatt hours a year) of electricity. The plant will be a grid-tied solar PV system that would produce power alongside the Ekurhuleni municipal feed. Construction of the plant started in February. As of last month, construction was 50% complete. Energy engineering solutions provider Terra Firma Solutions is responsible for constructing the plant. During a tour of the plant, Terra Firma Solutions project manager and electrical engineer Ian Nelson explained the route to the plant’s construction.
Terra Firma Solutions project manager and structural engineer Ian Nelson
Mia Breytenbach:
A detailed study was conducted to see if the roof could support the weight of the solar panels and associated equipment. Consequently, the plant would be split up into smaller plants, or arrays across five different roof sections.
Nelson also explained the outlay of the plant.
Terra Firma Solutions project manager and structural engineer Ian Nelson
Mia Breytenbach:
About 4 000 solar modules of sizes of 315 W and 250 W, will be installed. These will be connected to the 37 inverters to regulate the current for power supply. About 18 000 m of cabling is required for the plant.
Terra Firma Solutions marketing manager Fred Hagelberg noted at the plant’s launch last month that the energy generated would equate to about R2-million of electricity savings a year at the current tariffs.
The plant’s generation capacity also has the potential to supply more than 9-million hours a year of slot machine time.
Once the plant reaches peak production, it is expected to produce 15% to 20% of Emperors Palace’s electricity needs.
Terra Firma Solutions project manager and structural engineer Ian Nelson
Mia Breytenbach:
Terra Firma Solutions is also considering the potential of expanding the plant in future.
Sashnee Moodley:
Other news making headlines this week:
Equipment supplier strengthens bonds with German companies
The continued quality of German products has allowed Boksburg-based capital equipment and consumables provider Elquip Solutions to thrive in a challenging local market.
Elquip Solutions MD Mike Cronin
That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.
Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter
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