Electricity and Control December 2022

ENERGY MANAGEMENT + THE INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT

independent market simulation software PLEXOS to support African countries that are looking to shape multi-year plans to build optimal power systems for the future. Across the continent, countries can help to stimulate investment by setting out clear strategies to build well-functioning flexible renewable grids, showcasing the new opportunities those conditions create, such as green hydrogen production. Regulatory reform is also needed to place a value on flexibility and encourage the market. Doing so will help to lay the foundations for more flexible and reliable grids that can support high levels of renewable energy and increase energy access. □ Note: COP – the Council of Parties – is the decision-making forum of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It brings together signatory governments once a year to discuss and agree jointly, how to address climate change and its impacts.

Heineken’s Sedibeng brewery goes solar Heineken South Africa has taken a bold step in moving closer to reducing carbon emissions in all its operations with the launch of a solar power plant at its Sedibeng, Midvaal brewery. The solar photovoltaic plant began producing pow er in May this year and is the largest freestanding solar plant powering a brewery in South Africa, and the largest in the Heineken group. With 14 000 panels the PV plant has an energy capacity of over 6.5 MW, providing 30% of the brewery’s electricity demand. The 19-ha project will generate 17 000 MWh per annum. Richard Kriel, Heineken’s Engineering, Strategic Projects & Sustainability Manager, said at the launch: “This project supports Heineken’s Brewing a Better World goal to achieve net zero status at all its production sites by 2030. It is the latest move made by the company on its journey towards more sustainable brewing. “The newly installed solar plant follows the installation of a water reclamation plant, which we opened at the same facility earlier this year,” Kriel added. He highlighted a number of distinguishing features of the new solar plant. “This will be the largest solar pow er plant in the Sedibeng municipality. Unlike many solar plants in South Africa, constructed in parking areas or on roofs, or in a desert area, the Sedibeng brewery solar plant is built in a field covered with wild grasses.” The development of the plant, which has an estimated lifespan of 25 years, has been undertaken in partnership with The SOLA Group, a vertically integrated provider of renewable energy solutions in South Africa. This embedded grid-connected solar project incor porates single axis tracking technology that enables the panels to move with the rising and setting of the sun. “SOLA is proud to be associated with Heineken and compared to 2022 levels and emissions dropping to zero. ƒ South Africa can solve its load shedding challenge and save USD 26 billion by 2032. By adding 40 GW of wind and solar PV, South Africa can build a power system that would meet current and future energy demand. This can deliver a 17% reduction in power system emissions and reduce energy system costs by USD 10 billion per year by 2032. ƒ Mozambique can reduce emissions and save USD 84 million. By adding 200 MW of low cost renewable energy annually, Mozambique can build 3 GW of clean capacity by 2032, supported by 205 MW of new energy storage capacity and 1 GW of grid balancing engine capacity. This would cut 5.6 million tons of carbon emissions between 2022 and 2032 and save USD 84 million on the cost of electricity production. Wärtsilä undertook the power system modelling using

For more information visit: www.wartsila.com

ENERGY MANAGEMENT + THE INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT : PROJECTS, PRODUCTS + SERVICES

With 14 000 panels and covering a land area of 19 ha, the solar plant has an energy capacity of over 6.5 MW. its commitment to procuring clean, low-carbon energy. Embedded generation projects right at the source of consumption help in reducing the load on the electricity supply network without the need for additional grid infra structure upgrades,” says Dom Wills, CEO, Sola Group. The construction process took about seven months to reach completion. During this time, 127 job opportunities were generated of which 100 were filled by people from the local Sedibeng community. The various job oppor tunities include technicians, construction teams, general workers and community members who will continue to attend to solar panel cleaning and vegetation control to support optimal performance of the plant.

For more information visit: https://solagroup.co.za/

DECEMBER 2022 Electricity + Control

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