Provest Group Installs Solar System to Boost Sustainability at Steelpoort

Provest Group, a South African provider of services to the mining, industrial, and construction sectors, has successfully implemented a solar energy system at its Steelpoort facility in Limpopo province. This project aims to enhance energy security and reduce carbon emissions, particularly in the context of ongoing loadshedding challenges.

According to plant manager Martin Kubyane, the reliance on diesel generators led to increased carbon emissions, prompting the exploration of alternative energy solutions. By installing a solar system, Provest can secure its power supply, lessen grid dependence, and meet production targets more sustainably. Last year, the Steelpoort plant faced 120 hours of loadshedding, which necessitated the use of diesel generators that consumed 2,120 liters of fuel, contributing to 52.02 tons of CO2 emissions from coal-generated electricity.

The solar initiative is projected to save Provest over R50,000 monthly on generator rental and mitigate production loss risks due to power outages. It is estimated to prevent an annual carbon emission of 52.02 tons, underscoring Provest's commitment to environmental responsibility.

Launched in June, the project began with a detailed energy consumption report from Pienaar & Erwee Engineers, which informed the solar system's design. Local firm Rolling Snowball Holdings was appointed in March to execute the project.

The solar setup comprises two systems: a 50 kWh unit for plant operations and a 30 kWh unit for office needs. The project cost R1.5 million and involved 128 Canadian solar panels, inverters, and batteries, promising a payback period of just 1.7 years, significantly shorter than the industry average of nine years. Kubyane praised Rolling Snowball for their professionalism and the efficient implementation, which took just two weeks to install and six weeks for optimization.