South African company IMPOWER, which prides itself on its innovation and commitment to customer satisfaction in the solar energy sector, recently celebrated its tenth anniversary in Cape Town. Over the past decade, IMPOWER has been at the forefront of the solar and battery energy storage revolution, delivering cutting-edge solutions and playing its part in the transition to renewable energy.
The IMPOWER team celebrated the company’s 10th anniversary in early August 2024.
IMPOWER CEO, Jay Naidoo says the company has made great strides in its journey, starting in 2014, driven by a passion to electrify and empower South Africa. Its growth parallels this burgeoning era for solar energy in SA. As one of the leading businesses in the sector, IMPOWER has been instrumental in the country’s progress towards a just energy transition and the end of loadshedding.
Naidoo says, “Every day we are humbled and inspired by the value we deliver through our work.”
He says the company aims to help the country move beyond the energy deficit and to contribute to equitable supply nationally. “With its growing, rapidly urbanising population, SA needs more generation capacity. That could be done unsustainably, with more dirty coal, but only at the cost of greater environmental devastation. Rather, let’s act fast to provide clean, renewable energy in response.”
IMPOWER has marked up some significant milestones on its journey, including the development of pioneering solar technologies, the successful implementation of large-scale solar and battery projects, and a steadfast dedication to reducing the carbon footprint globally.
The company’s track record is reflected in its portfolio of some 150 tailored solar and battery energy storage solutions, mainly in the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector, with installations powering mines, farms, shopping centres, business parks, schools, health facilities, and more.
In terms of the numbers, the past ten years have included:
- 150 000 solar panels installed on property that covers 300 000 square metres
- 2 000 km of cables installed
- Jobs created for 40 people
- Work on 1 400 sites across the country
- The construction of 40 MW of solar PV plants and 20 MW/h of battery storage
- A substantial boost for the local economy, calculated at R300 million
- Backup power for 30 education institutions, which helped 20 000 learners continue with their learning
- Backup power to wine farms, which helped in the production of 300 000 cases of wine.
One of IMPOWER’s flagship projects is the solar PV installation at Sandton City in Johannesburg, located almost next door to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton – the financial and corporate core of South Africa.
More recently the company has made an impact in the residential estates sector. This follows the success of the Coral Beach Estate PV solar and battery hybrid system – the first of its kind in SA – with sunlight axis-tracking technology to make the most of the solar radiation reaching the surface area of the panel array and powering 180 homes.
Naidoo returns to the company’s sense of purpose: “IMPOWER’s core values – excellence, integrity, purpose, commitment, and being teachable – are inherent in each person’s work, whether the CEO of the company or an electrician on the ground.
“At IMPOWER, we design, procure, install, maintain and operate customised solutions that solve specific energy problems for our clients, in a way that makes sense for their business and location,” he says.
He also highlights the company’s participatory, collaborative approach to achieving energy security.
“We make sure that people are equipped to deal with the energy crisis. We invest in communities and involve all stakeholders in important decisions. We also provide support to various NGOs and NPOs around the country.
“Our people are our greatest asset and, internally, we are focused on empowering each other through leadership, training, and guidance.”
Looking ahead, Naidoo anticipates a period of heightened activity in SA’s solar energy space.
“Battery energy storage systems are becoming increasingly important and will form a part of all our future projects,” he notes.
Reflecting on the past 10 years and IMPOWER’s commitment to bringing sustainable solar energy solutions to the people of SA and beyond he says, “We’re in it for the long haul, and we’re in it together. Our mission is clear: to make sustainable power accessible across the continent. Electrification and energy security are a cornerstone for overall economic prosperity.
“We see the cascading benefits our work brings to communities; each project we’ve built has had a significant impact, benefitting the people who live and work there in various ways.”
For more information visit: https://impower.solar/