Solar Panels Light the Way
A recent R 40 million investment over the next five years, facilitated by Wesgro, into a photovoltaic solar panel manufacturing plant is set to make sustainable, affordable electricity a reality. According to the production plant owners, Mary and Peet Booysen their crystalline solar panels, which harness the sun’s energy to create electricity, will contribute aggressively towards the South African government’s ambitious plans to deal with climate change and power shortages..
Increasing demand for energy, soaring oil prices, uncertain energy supplies, the need for a clean environment and the recent energy crisis is what prompted the Booysen’s to explore affordable alternative energy options. The price of solar panels has dropped considerably in the last 10 years but prices still vary from R30/watt to R50/watt depending on the size of the solar panel. said Booysen. These panels can be used to power a wide range of equipment such as, water pumps, traffic lights, solar heating, weather stations and to generate electricity in rural areas which do not have access to the national electricity grid, he said. With one of these modules each home can actually watch all the 2010 world cup soccer games.
The Booysen’s who have more than twenty years of combined expertise in the solar photovoltaic sector opened their own factory, SETSOLAR in late 2007. At present SETSOLAR is the only black South African women owned solar panel manufacturer in South Africa, which is able to supply the local PV industry. The Booysen’s unique competitive advantage is that they are able to produce customised affordable solar panels. To cater to their extensive customer base, which ranges from large corporates to small and medium sized enterprises in both the local and international market, they have developed a range of high end and low end products. In addition SETSOLAR is the only solar panel producer that has donated solar panels to the Antarctica program that operates at a temperature of minus 20 degrees.
Demand for these solar panels has been on the increase, necessitating the need for expansion and at the end of the year they plan to create an additional 30 jobs. Export orders have increased significantly and at present the company’s exports are focused on the South African Development Community (SADC), namely Namibia, Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania. Order books going forward look positive with export orders for Brazil in the pipeline.
In order to further enhance their product range they are planning to establish a research and development unit to explore ways of using other alternative energy sources. Future plans include manufacturing the solar cells locally as at present these can only be imported. Bio-fuels are also high on the company’s agenda with a small bio-diesel pilot plant installed in August.
The recent Western Cape solar water heating policy has further created an avenue for companies who are exploring manufacturing of solar water heaters. Farouk Yesufu, Investment Portfolio Manager: Renewable Energy said that the Western Cape is the industry leader in the renewable energy sector, being the first province to have a Sustainable Energy Strategy and a Policy for Solar Water Heaters in place. With the surge in global oil prices, the quest for alternative clean energy, a reduction in the carbon emissions and the 2012 deadline for implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, seeking alternative energy sources has become a priority.
According to Angelo Manzoni, Chief Executive Officer, Wesgro, the recent investment by the Booysen’s into the Solar Photovoltaic industry will not only contribute to further job creation but will also ensure that areas, where Eskom cannot bring in the grid to supply energy, have electricity. It is envisaged that in 2025, the photovoltaic market in Africa will surpass that of Europe he said.
Going forward Wesgro intends to further develop this sector by proactively seeking renewable projects and capitalizing on the competitive advantage of Cape Town as a favourable investment destination for the manufacturing of solar panels.
