Electricity and Control June 2022

ENERGY MANAGEMENT + THE INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Grid connection approved for solar PV micro-grid

The Ekurhuleni Municipality has approved the grid connection for a large solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and battery system, marking a significant milestone in the development of embedded generation renewable energy projects in South Africa. The PV and lithium-ion battery system will be one of South Africa’s largest micro-grids: a 1.8 MW solar PV facility alongside a 2.9 MWh battery, and being grid-connected it will help to stabilise the local grid. PepsiCo Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) procured the sys tem from the SOLA Group, with the aim of securing ener gy supply and reducing carbon emissions at its distribu tion centre near Kempton Park in Johannesburg. “We are pleased to have implemented such a landmark project at one of our South African facilities,” said Umesh Himraj, Engineering Sustainability Lead at PepsiCo SSA. “This investment in renewable energy forms part of our PepsiCo positive journey – a strategic end-to-end transformation strategy with sustainability at the centre of how the company will create growth and value,” he added. The micro-grid solution was engineered and con structed by the SOLA Group. CEO, Dom Wills said, “The solution we devised uses the roof space at PepsiCo’s facility to house solar modules which generate enough

solar electricity during the day to run the plant entirely, and store excess power in the battery. The solution provides near 100% renewable energy for the facility.” Until more recently, micro-grids have

been an appealing but expensive option for businesses, but the substantial cost reductions in renewable energy technology, in parallel with the unreliability of the national grid and rising electricity tariffs, are now making them more feasible for large energy users. “We did not expect it to be financially viable for large energy users to defect completely from the grid before another two years. However, with continuing compound ed electricity price increases, such investments are proving to be valuable for these energy users, providing cheaper power and immunity from load shedding. In ad dition, many companies have sustainability targets and are looking to make their operations more environmental ly friendly,” Wills says.

PepsiCo SSA has installed a 1.8 MW solar PV plant plus battery storage at its distribution

centre east of Johannesburg.

For more information contact SOLA Group. Tel: +27 (0)10 597 3538

Email: info@solagroup.co.za Visit: https://solagroup.co.za/

JUNE 2022 Electricity + Control

17