Power Solutions Installs One Of Africa’s Largest Rooftop Systems At Dube Tradeport On The Eve Of The Global Climate Change Conference In Durban
Posted on 10 November 2011Power Solutions, a South African EPC company, has begun installation of one of Africa’s largest roof-mounted photovoltaic systems in the Dube TradePort’s ‘Agrizone’ at Durban International Airport.
This photovoltaic installation, with a capacity scheduled to exceed 600kWp, was given permission by the eThekwini authorities to connect to the municipal grid. “This ground-breaking photovoltaic installation will make a significant contribution towards meeting the energy requirements of the Agrizone’s pack houses and in doing so, enable a more sustainable and environmentally sound operation at Africa’s most advanced hydroponics facility.” says Axel Scholle, Managing Director of Power Solutions and lead engineer on the project.
The first phase of the installation takes place on the logistics and storage facility and will feed power to the Agrizone grid before the start of the COP17 Climate Change Conference in Durban on the 28 November. The second phase of the installation will be installed on the warehousing facility once the building construction has been completed.
The solar power generated will supply the Agrizone grid with electricity to power cold storage for the produce harvested from the greenhouses as well as the packing lines, packing equipment, offices and storage. The total installation will off-set the carbon emissions of the Dube TradePort by 830 tons of CO2 every year for more than twenty-five years.