Page 27 - Energize October 2021

NEWS

Going off-grid to reduce carbon footprint years to start reducing the consumption of
“We plan in the next two to three

our fossil fuels by switching from diesel to
lectrolux South Africa has embarked on its journey to exit the national electricity grid and electric forklifts which can be charged by our
move to renewable solar energy, cutting the organisation’s carbon footprint at its local solar system,” said de Clercq.
EKwikot water heater (geyser) manufacturing plant by an impressive 40%. “We also want to reduce our water
Ughard de Clercq, an engineer at Electrolux South Africa said the organisation was expected consumption in the future by harvesting
to complete the development of a major 1 MW solar energy system at its Benoni factory by rainwater to reduce our environmental
November 2021. The company says it has invested R16 million in the solar system which it started impact even further,” he added.
building in July 2021. This latest investment in solar energy at
He said the company plans to be climate neutral by 2030 in all its manufacturing operations. its local factory was part of the organisation’s
The 112 kW solar system, which the firm installed for its offices in 2020, has saved over 96 t of CO 2 global strategy to achieve its ‘better living’
this year. He said he expects the 1 MW solar system to reduce the firm’s carbon footprint by 40%. 2030 goal of zero carbon emissions, partially
Once completed, the solar system will comprise 1278 solar panels which will power the by using renewable energy in production.
factory during the day, supplying 80 to 90% of the plant’s energy requirements. The organisation The investment follows similar solar systems
intends to explore the possibility of purchasing renewable energy from Eskom, to meet its night- installed at the company’s plants in China,
time electricity requirements, once the parastatal is ready to offer privately produced green Thailand and Australia.
energy as an option, de Clercq says. “We did not develop more than I MW due to the area of “We strive not only to manufacture
roof space available, and regulations at the time limited the amount of electricity which could sustainable products such as our appliances but
generated by a solar system,” he added. to manufacture them in a sustainable way. It is
When limits are increased to 100 MW or more, Electrolux would also investigate extending its important for us to look after the environment
solar system so that it could sell power back to the electricity grid. and do our part for future generations to
“If the local law and infrastructure allow it, we would want to sell the excess green electricity come,” commented Murray Crow, Electrolux
back into the grid. We would like to be able to help other organisations by supplying them with South Africa’s managing director.
green energy,” he said.
Electrolux would likely also explore installing smaller solar energy systems at its geyser Contact Electrolux, Phone 011 897-4600,
distribution centres around South Africa. www.electrolux.co.za

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