Marking a significant milestone in the development of South Africa’s solar energy market, pioneering domestic energy firm SolarAfrica has successfully designed, constructed and commissioned the country’s largest solar carport system for the Ford South Africa Silverton assembly plant, in Pretoria.
The landmark 13.5 MW solar project uses solar rays to produce 35% of the plant’s electricity requirements, eliminating more than 20 000 tons of CO2 a year. This will enable Ford to achieve its global sustainability target of using 100% carbon-free electricity across all its manufacturing operations by 2035.
The Ford project was inked under SolarAfrica’s pioneering Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which requires the automotive manufacturer to only pay for the electricity it uses. Additionally, the PPA did not require upfront capital expenditure but was co-funded by Commercial Energy SA (CESA). The CESA investment facility is based on a long-term joint venture between the Evolution II Fund and SolarAfrica.
Steven Faure, Partner at Inspired Evolution, the advisor to the Evolution II Fund, said, “we are excited to be involved in this landmark project to bring clean energy to Ford’s Silverton operations. This project is a key milestone in the roll-out of best-in-class solar PV solutions for commercial and industrial consumers in South Africa. We will continue to work with SolarAfrica to deliver world-class solar solutions, contributing to a reduction of GHG and improving energy security across the country.”
SolarAfrica CEO David McDonald says the ‘mammoth’ project, which required over 35 000 man-hours and created over 120 jobs among sub-contractors, represents a significant step-change in the progression of large-scale solar PV energy projects in South Africa.
“We applaud Ford South Africa for being industry leaders and committing to a sustainability project of this stature. Aside from the environmental and cost benefits, the Ford solar project has had a big impact on job creation in the Tshwane area, which is fully aligned with the City of Tshwane’s focus to grow the automotive industry as a key driver of employment,” he says.
The bespoke, large-scale cantilever solar carport structure provides parking bays for more than 3 600 vehicles and comprises over 30 000 solar panels. The SolarAfrica-designed carport is an efficient way to deploy solar, as the solution protects parked vehicles from poor weather conditions while simultaneously producing cheaper, cleaner power.
The launch of the solar project comes as a report by economics consultancy Meridian Economics estimates that more than 15 000 MW of additional solar energy generation capacity, as well as almost 7 000 MW of wind energy, will be required to stabilise South Africa’s energy system.
“We are glad to be contributing to the sustainability of this sector and assist Ford SA in bringing its vision of job creation to life, hopefully leading to further industry growth and indirect employment,” McDonald adds.
About SolarAfrica
Founded in 2011, SolarAfrica is the first company in South Africa to provide a solar finance solution through Power Purchase Agreements, which enables business owners to reduce their monthly electricity costs by up to 40% and become more sustainable organisations, without having to pay any upfront capital.
As market leaders, they specialise in bringing together their financial and technical expertise to provide the best energy solutions. Ten years later, their diversified offering provides a holistic approach to solar solutions that are created to meet the long-term sustainable needs of their customers.
The company’s integrated solutions are designed for commercial and industrial businesses in Southern Africa seeking a solution to power security, cost savings and carbon reduction.
In 2021, SolarAfrica was named the continent’s leading solar energy firm, scooping the Africa Solar Industry Association’s African Solar Company of the Year award.
Enquiries: www.solarafrica.com
