Western Cape NPO empowered through solar system donation

Solar power solutions manufacturer SolarWorld Africa had donated a R120 000 5 kW solar system to Western Cape-based nonprofit organisation Grootbos Foundation’s Green Futures horticulture and life-skills college, which will significantly reduce the foundation’s electricity overheads, allowing for funds to be channelled towards its Gansbaai community upliftment projects.

“This donation assists the Grootbos Foundation in its continued work towards [the realisation of] our vision and brings us closer to living our commitment to sustainability and conservation”, says Grootbos Foundation MD Julie Cheetham.

Grootbos Foundation marketing manager Ruth Crichton adds that, without the assistance of SolarWorld and Solek, “a solar system would be completely out of our reach and it is fantastic that they have enabled us to operate in an environment-friendly way and [to live] our ethos”.

The 5 kW system comprises twenty 250 W Sunmodule Plus panels and an inverter mounting structure, as well as monitoring and control equipment, which was installed and commissioned free of charge by renewable energy engineering company Solek in August.

“Partnering and long-term relations with well-established solar companies have always been a key strategy [of Solek]. Our collaboration with SolarWorld on this project has proven successful and we look forward to building on past success and [continuing our collaboration] in the future,” says Solek MD Hannes van Zyl.

SolarWorld Africa MD Gregor Küpper tells Engineering News that the Sunmodule Plus panels, which are produced with a tempered glass front, and a polycrystalline cell, and are embedded in ethylene vinyl acetate and covered with back-sheet foil, are guaranteed to produce electricity for at least 25 years.

“In the next 25 years, the system installed at the Grootbos Foundation will produce about 200 000 kW/h of power. “At current electricity prices, that amounts to a minimum saving of about R300 000,” he explains, adding that this will allow the foundation to invest in its Green Future, Football Foundation and Siyakhula initiatives.

The Football Foundation was established in 2008 with the aim of achieving greater social integration in the Gansbaai region, as well as educating and empowering youth, using sports as a vehicle for change.

The Siyakhula initiative, which was founded in 2009, focuses on skills development in organic agriculture, sustainable animal husbandry and beekeeping for members from the local community, particularly women.