MechChem Africa March-April 2022

BMG World Goes Green In the first phase of its three-phase solar project, BMG has commissioned a 450 kW solar plant at BMG World, the company’s central distribution and manufacturing site and head office in Johannesburg. “T he first phase of BMG’s new solar plant, which was in- stalled by Emergent Energy, a specialist provider of green

energy solutions, forms part of the com- pany’s three-phase solar project,” explains DarrynWright, GroupMarketing Executive, Engineering Solutions Group (ESG). “This renewable energy initiative will contribute to BMG’s commitment to enhancing an eco-friendly environment by reducing the carbon footprint of its largest site. This installation will also significantly lower electricity costs at BMG World. “Emergent Energy has entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with BMG, effectively becoming a supplier of electricity to the company. The cost of each unit of electricity supplied is substantially lower than local council tariffs, thus giving BMG a substantial saving. These savings are likely to increase in time, as the council tariffs increase. “Photovoltaic (PV) modules – which use daylight, not direct sunlight to generate electricity – are gaining popularity globally as a form of renewable energy that is clean, emission-free, sustainable, safe and cost ef- ficient. Planning for a solar system formed part of the major extension to BMG World in 2015. The new warehouse was designed to accommodate solar panels, but was also aligned to ensure maximum solar panel efficiency. Key reasons for transitioning to solar are fourfold, notes Wright: • Reducing the carbon footprint of BMG’s distribution site and head office.

BMG has commissioned a 450 kW solar plant at BMGWorld, the company’s central distribution and manufacturing site and head office, in central Johannesburg.

ing implemented in a phased approach. Phase 1, now completed, will allow BMG to run the main distribution facility and recep- tion building on solar,” he continues. Phase 1 comprises 1 000 Longi PV pan- els, six Huawei inverters that convert the dc generated into useable ac power, and an Eaton integration system, which integrates and controls the power from the onsite generated solar system, the inbound council supply and the backup diesel generators to best meet demand. In Phase 2, more solar panels will be instal led on the BMG World structure and on the adjacent Fluid Technology and Mechanical Drives buildings. This project, which is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2022, will mean that the entire BMG World campus will be running off solar during normal working hours. Phase 3 will see further panels being erected on the new warehouse building, with the possibility of feeding this power back into the grid. This phase can only be implemented once legislation and local council bylaws permit. The agreement is currently under review and will potentially allow power generated by BMGWorld’s so- lar system to be fed to other BMG branches in the greater Johannesburg area. www.bmgwor ld.net

• Lowering energy costs, especially as Eskom tariffs have been consistently increasing above the CPI rate. • Deteriorating infrastructure in central Johannesburg, which has led to more and lengthy power outages and thus increased running costs. • The inconvenience of regular loadshed- ding due to Eskom’s challenges tomeet demand, which result in increased costs through running generators to ensure reliability of our supply-chain. “BMG’s conversion to green energy is be-

The demand during sunny hours at BMGWorld can now being supplied by the new solar plant.

32 ¦ MechChem Africa • March-April 2022