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Sola Future Energy helps
facility wean itself off diesel
A state-of-the-art microgrid system, recently installed
on Robben Island by solar energy firm Sola Future
Energy, has drastically reduced the island’s reliance
on costly diesel power, says Dominic Wills, the chief
executive of Sola Future Energy.
Wills announced some of the firm’s latest
projects at the African Utility Week that
was held at the Cape Town International
Convention Centre recently.
He says the solar system was the largest
combined solar and lithium-ion storage facility
in South Africa. Wills says since adopting a
‘green’ energy system, the island had already
produced 650 000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of
solar energy, an average of 3 250kWh a day,
which had significantly reduced its reliance on
traditional diesel generators — a noisy and
expensive feature of the old system.
In the past, diesel had to be transported
by ship from the mainland, primarily to
desalinate the island’s water supply. “The
cost of purchasing and transporting the diesel
formed a substantial portion of the island’s
operating budget. Over and above the financial
considerations, the noise and dust emanating
from these generators were not creating a
tourist-friendly environment,” says Wills.
He adds that the Department of Tourism had
set aside funding for a microgrid project with
solar photovoltaic systems (PV) to improve
both the island’s image and function. Sola
Future Energy was awarded the contract and
installed a PV farm comprising nearly 2 000
high-efficiency modules that would generate in
excess of 666 kilowatt-peaks (kWp).
Wills continues and mentions that hard-to-
reach areas like islands and rural districts tend
to be partially connected to the national grid,
or suffer from unreliable electricity supply.
“Like Robben Island, these zones are poised to
benefit from going totally off grid.”
The firm was also involved with the Cedar Mill
Mall in Clanwilliam, after being approached by
the centre’s developers, Noble Property Fund,
to help with its power supply needs.
“Initially, the developers had applied for a
500 kilovolt-ampere (kVA) connection from
Eskom to power the facility, but the parastatal
was only able to approve half of their demand
requirements due to local constraints to the
grid. Faced with a major supply shortage, the
developers were forced to consider utilising
noisy and expensive diesel generators to make
up the shortfall,” he says.
Wills adds that the Robben Island project,
launched recently, cost in the region of R25m
and generated 30 jobs, while the Cedar Mill
shopping centre project, set to be completed
soon, cost R16m and has generated 25 jobs.
He says that Sola offered to integrate a
microgrid into their shopping centre consisting of
a 851kWp PV system with a 700kWh lithium-ion
battery, which makes up for the power shortfall.
“Low overall operating costs for businesses
could result in a lower price point for goods
and services. These examples demonstrate
that successful initiatives need reliable access
to low-cost electricity,” Wills concludes.
Source: Leads 2 Business PA
A state-of-the-art microgrid system was recently installed
on Robben Island by solar energy firm Sola Future Energy.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
July 2018 Volume 24 I Number 5