Once a company has integrated its energy needs, it must develop a clear five- to ten-year plan to understand how to achieve energy independence

Johannesburg, South Africa, November 29, 2021/ — FIMER South Africa Country Manager William Van Wyk (www.FIMER.com)

Providing stable electricity is one of the most controversial topics in South Africa, especially when businesses and citizens helplessly watch the country fall into power cuts more and more regularly, with little notice. Although the new Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana stated in his mini-budget that state-owned enterprises are in "serious love", Eskom itself has caused the specter of internal destruction, which is behind the frequent collapses.

While anger is understandable, it means that action is urgently needed, which means having the infrastructure we need.

The vast majority of commercial and industrial activities on this continent are completely dependent on local infrastructure. Like the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa hopes to achieve economic growth after a devastating pandemic, but it is anchored by an unreliable power grid.

So, what can we do? We have plenty of sunlight on our continent, and we can and should use it by deploying more solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. There are two practical considerations: we install self-generation through various combinations of installations to build grid-dependent or hybrid solar solutions, or we develop completely off-grid installations, which are ideal in more remote areas. Although this sounds simple, the actual situation is much more complicated.

Make solar energy affordable for everyone

Perhaps the biggest challenge of the past decade has been to monetize the solution to the point where it is exclusive to the rich, not everyone else. This is unsustainable, and it is the tipping point. As a sub-Saharan region, we need to take ownership of the commercialization of our resources in an environment where all the components needed to facilitate the solution are already available.

Where the capital is, it can do it. However, somewhere in the process, the system failed, which meant that many companies were left out due to cost reasons. Therefore, a balance needs to be found, that is, it is still commercially viable, but sufficient for a wider range of enterprises to benefit from the technology. The critical point makes the commercialization of the technology inconsistent with the actual demand itself.

For example, let us consider a mine that wants to invest in solar installations. It starts with one or more investors who make funds available. Then, your developer’s job is to perform as expected within the budget. This is the first area where alignment is critical. Under the developer, you have civil and electrical contractors, they are different.

In order to see the actual electrical aspects, consider that the third-party consulting engineering company located below the developer is tasked with independently managing the application according to expectations. The next level is the module level-this looks at modules or actual photovoltaic panels, where each supplier's product is suitable for a specific application, so consulting engineers need to decide which module manufacturer is suitable for this application.

Once completed, the structure itself is considered-this is where the modules are installed. Likewise, there are different options that are more suitable for certain applications than others. Once this problem is solved, a specific wiring suitable for the purpose must be selected, followed by the heartbeat of the inverter or the system. This is where the power from the module is converted to AC power. The key nature here is to align with the expectations of the mining plant-from a base load point of view, what does it require and what is the expected maximum capacity load?

If the application requires a continuous energy supply or if the mine is located in a remote area, there must be reliable energy storage. Here, you can decide to use a DC-coupled storage system or an AC-coupled system. All these elements talk about the ability of the microgrid to produce the products originally planned.

Although this is a very simple description, it implies the multiple levels and complexity of energy management-and countless supply chains. If any layer is misaligned during this process, consumers will be affected, in this case, it will be mine.

To make matters more complicated, the market is flooded with many cheaper solutions, but not necessarily consistent with specific applications. Adding to this complexity are government regulations-across different regions, including import taxes and tariffs, grid code compliance, and other challenges that affect investment interest.

Technology for the future

FIMER's product portfolio is well suited to meet these challenges because we use flexible design methods to provide a large number of new platforms and size variants to meet market needs.

For example, FIMER recently launched a new platform FIMER "Power" for the residential market, which includes FIMER PowerUNO and PowerTRIO inverters and PowerX storage systems, which combine the latest technological innovations and high-end design features. FIMER also launched PVS 260-350 for the public utility sector, which is designed to meet the needs of decentralized and centralized applications and covers 100% of public utility applications. The new PVS-10/33 for the C&I market segment ensures maximum integration with the latest photovoltaic technology (including bifacial modules). FIMER also has a series of technologies used in the field of electric vehicles, including FIMER FLEXA AC Station and FIMER FLEXA AC Wallbox.

In the face of all this, how to "own"? It must first realize-realize how the monetization of the project is currently happening and where the obstacles usually lie, and then, importantly, realize your own energy use and needs. In any application, be it commercial, manufacturing or residential, the first step is to realize that every aspect of your business depends on energy. This is consistent with FIMER's vision statement. Our vision is to shape a powerful new energy model and use the power of the sun to promote progress and prosperity in order to build a cleaner and sustainable world.

Once a company has integrated its energy needs, it must develop a clear five- to ten-year plan to understand how to achieve energy independence. There are various mechanisms available. These include leases or power purchase agreements, in which the company has no capital expenditures to introduce alternative energy sources such as solar energy, and third parties will sell back the generated electricity at a premium. On the other hand, companies with appetite and capital can invest on their own.

No matter which route the road map takes, it starts with awareness and then a commitment to ownership of critical energy infrastructure. Independence from the grid puts your business under control, even in times of crisis. As a global leader in solar inverter technology, we are capable of making positive changes. We are committed to using the energy sector to meet growing demand, provide clean and affordable energy, and truly benefit people and places.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIMER SA.