Page 13 - Energize August 2021

NEWS

Power solutions for business affected by electricity disruptions

outh Africa was rocked with a new round of load shedding As the first green business chamber in the country, the Border-Kei Chamber
in June this year, as Stage 4 load shedding was announced. of Business is the blueprint for businesses and industries to go off-the-grid.
SThis resulted in customers’ electricity being cut 12 times The chamber found a way to bring light into their darkness and found a
over four days. This was devastating to businesses, industries, and solution to supply their neighbours with a stable supply of power. 6
the South African economy, which loses R500-million for each load
shedding stage. 1,2 About First National Battery
Although President Ramaphosa announced changes to the First National Battery is South Africa’s leading battery manufacturer for
Electricity Regulation Act, which will see new electricity providers industries and applications ranging from automotive (including industrial,
enter the market, reducing dependency on Eskom , load shedding commercial and passenger vehicles), mining, railway and renewable energy
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will remain part of South Africans’ lives for the foreseeable to surface traction, telecommunications, and standby battery solutions.
future. Working in the dark isn’t an option and businesses and Their vehicle battery solutions are trusted by all leading car manufacturers
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industries should adapt to alternative energy solutions to keep the in South Africa. They produce more than 2,2- million batteries each year and
power on. export their leading solutions to more than 40 countries.

Eastern Cape’s business chamber takes the lead, goes green References
After almost eight years of load shedding disruptions, Border-Kei 1. Timeslive Explainer: “What Eskom’s stage 4 load-shedding means”,
Chamber of Business installed alternative power solutions after https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-06-09-explainer-
struggling businesses approached the Chamber for strategies to what-eskoms-stage-4-load-shedding-means, 9 June 2021.
help mitigate their losses from load shedding, without the need to 2. Business Tech: “Load shedding cost South Africa around R25 billion
purchase generators. 4,5 in the last two weeks: MEC”, https://businesstech.co.za/news/
Border-Kei became the country’s first green business chamber, energy/497749/load-shedding-cost-south-africa-around-r25-billion-in-
going off-the-grid in 2016, except for the air-conditioning system, the-last-two-weeks-mec/, 10 June 2021.
which demands high energy. 4,5 3. Business Tech: “Expect 5 more years of load shedding for South
Africa - these charts show why”, https://businesstech.co.za/news/
How Border-Kei Chamber of Business went off-the-grid energy/475990/expect-5-more-years-of-load-shedding-for-south-africa-
After an audit of their energy demands and efficiencies, the these-charts-show-why, 16 March 2021.
chamber installed LED lighting and passive motion sensors. 4. Show Me: “First GREEN Business Chamber in South Africa”, https://
Although they reduced their electricity demand, they were still showme.co.za/east-london/news/business-news/bkcob-first-green-
affected by load shedding. 4,5 business-chamber-in-south-africa, 30 September 2016.
The chamber decided to install a backup system of grid-tied 5. Dispatchlive: “Leading to a green future”, Business Hi-Lite. Greening
solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. This system is powered by two chamber offices. https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2016-09-30-
uninterruptable power supply (UPS) converters and battery leading-to-a-green-future, 30 September 2016.
banks. Using this new electricity system saves the chamber 6. First National Battery: https://www.battery.co.za/products/standby/ups
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thousands of Rand in annual electricity bills and keeps their lights
on even during a power outage. Contact First National Battery, Tel 011 741-3600,
Generous donations from several companies, including marketing@battery.co.za
battery banks from South Africa’s leading battery manufacturer
First National Battery, made renewable energy possible for the For more information, please visit https://www.battery.co.za
chamber.

Reliable battery power for UPS
The chambers’ UPS converters are powered by gel-filled battery
banks which ensure continuous power to the building even during
load shedding. Businesses and industries looking to power their
4,5
off-grid applications should look for reliable and robust batteries
with the following benefits :
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• Low self-discharge rate: Batteries have high performance due
to the low self-discharge rate.
• Long service life: Grid design and technology has extended
the battery service life.
• Maintenance-free: Technology advancements and proper
battery care mean battery banks can be maintenance-free,
with no topping up required.
• Recyclable: At the end of its long battery life, it is important
to recycle the battery. Recycling batteries will prevent harmful
elements from polluting landfills and contaminating water
which is detrimental to people, the environment and animals.

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