North West Business 2023-24

OVERVIEW
Energy
The sun will power Sun City.
SECTOR INSIGHT
Solar panels may be made
at Stilfontein on the N12.
Sun City Resort is taking advantage of its sunny location.
Sun City is living up to its name with the installation of a R16-
million roof-based solar system.
The power produced will be the equivalent of what 329
average-sized South African households consume over a year.
When the sun is shining, the panels will provide about 14% of the
resort’s electrical demand. The investment is expected to pay for itself
within five years and have a lifespan beyond 25 years. The plant will
reduce Sun City’s annual CO2 equivalent emissions by an estimated
2 510 tons.
Stilfontein, on the N12 highway between Potchefstroom and
Klerksdorp, has been identified as the possible site of a solar panel
manufacturing plant. A feasibility study is to be done and the North
West Development Corporation will lobby Infrastructure South Africa
(ISA) for the Stilfontein concept to be included in national plans with
regard to solar panel manufacturing.
In addition, the Provincial Government of the North West intends
revising its Provincial Energy Strategy to take into account the
rapidly changing global energy environment. A joint technical team
of experts has been established with the North-West University to
revise the document with special attention to be given to the issues
of energy security and how to
mitigate loadshedding.
Tronox and Sola have signed
Africa’s biggest corporate
renewable energy power
purchase agreement award
to date, related to two solar
plants near Lichtenburg in the
Ditsobotla Local Municipality.
This agreement takes advantage
of recently promulgated
changes to regulations, whereby
energy wheeling is allowed.
Wheeling means the power
will be supplied through the
national grid but it is generated
and purchased in geographically
distinct locations. The reduction
in annual CO2 emissions related
to these facilities is expected to
be 595 tons.
When De Wildt Solar
near Brits started commercial
operations in January 2021,
it became, according to
Engineering News, the “fourth
utility-scale plant that has come
on line in the North West in
under five months”. The province
had been lagging in terms of
projects undertaken through
the national private producers’
renewable energy programme,
but now it’s making up for lost
time. With 169 140 solar modules,
the South African-owned plant
delivers 123 186MWh/year and
NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2023/24
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PHOTO: Sun City