DELIVERING EXCELLENCE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY ENGINEERING

Wade Walker Solar provides affordable, custom-designed rooftop solar and battery storage solutions. Its mission is to provide integrated and sustainable energy solutions to the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

As part of the Murray & Roberts Power, Industrial & Water platform, Wade Walker Solar is aligned to the global imperative to transition to a more sustainable environment by enabling green energy solutions for its clients.

CCG South Africa, part of the global Cable Gland company, recently entrusted Wade Walker Solar in delivering a roof-mounted solar panel solution. The bespoke 575kW peak power grid-tie system was designed to optimise CCG’s roof space to achieve the maximum amount of photovoltaic (“PV”) energy, limiting municipal grid load and realising significant cost savings.

Wade Walker Solar is also proud to be contributing to Impala Rustenburg’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Impala’s Siesta property was transitioned to a hybrid storage PV solution by installing a 251kW system. PV power is generated during the day while excess energy is stored in the battery backup for use during power outages. The solar panels also serve as carports.

In an ongoing project for Murray & Roberts Cementation, the Wade Walker Solar team is developing a system that reflects the excellence of modern renewable-energy engineering. Says Pieter van der Westhuizen, Operations Manager at Wade Walker Solar, “We are excited to be implementing the best possible PV technology and cutting-edge hybrid inverter systems and look forward to leading the way in project excellence for our clients.”

MURRAY & ROBERTS TRAINING ACADEMY GOES GREEN WITH ITS OWN SOLAR FARM

Taking forward its sustainability agenda while safeguarding operational performance, Murray & Roberts Cementation is now powering its training academy near Carletonville, South Africa, using solar energy.

The move puts the training and engineering facility on a stable and reliable energy platform, according to Murray & Roberts Cementation Engineering Services Executive, Hercilus Harmse. It is also in line with the Company’s strategic aim of reducing its carbon footprint.

The solution is a hybrid system using solar energy for most of the site’s requirements, with lithium batteries providing continuous electricity in the case of outages. The existing backup diesel generating system adds another level of redundancy. The photovoltaic (“PV”) installation comprises almost 1 400 solar panels and will generate 726kW of power for the site. Securely situated adjacent to the training academy’s offices, training rooms, workshops and other infrastructure, the solar farm comprises about a hectare of north-facing, ground-mounted PV panels at an efficient 12-degree angle. These also feed into 800kWh of battery capacity, which provide an uninterrupted flow to the range of sophisticated electrical and electronic equipment on site.

“As our operational technology at the academy advances, there is steadily more risk posed by unplanned outages,” Harmse notes. “Our training equipment today, for instance, includes sensitive and costly computerised tools such as simulators, which ideally require constant and controlled energy supply.”

Prior to starting, the project required extensive data collection and analysis to identify electricity usage patterns and peaks – leading to the most effective strategy. Harmse says the renewable power project forms part of a broader sustainability strategy at the academy, which includes environmental initiatives related to water, recycling and the reduced use of hydrocarbons in energy generation.

“This bold step into a renewable future puts us on a firm footing where clients can feel confident about our commitment to sustainability and our ability to deliver,” he says.

OPTIPOWER PROJECTS CONNECTS MEERKAT EXTENSION PROJECT

The MeerKAT radio telescope, located in the Northern Cape, South Africa, is part of an international project that listens to radio emissions from outer space, translating the data into visible images. The project has discovered several galaxies within our solar system.

OptiPower Projects is working on the MeerKAT extension project, increasing the number of radio dishes from 64 to 84, enabling an increase in sensitivity, spatial resolution and image quality. Its scope of work includes installing power and fibre communication reticulation.

Says Hilton Swart, senior Project Manager for OptiPower Projects, “MeerKAT is located in a radio silent zone of the Karoo, which means there are no cellphones, laptops or other Bluetooth devices allowed on site as they emit interference that could obstruct a potential discovery.”

OptiPower Projects is working alongside Concor, which is constructing the roads and foundation platforms for the new dishes in the Array.

Concludes Hilton, “This is a world-class project and its particular challenges mean that we are always learning and innovating.”