[imagesource: Facebook / Ener-G-Africa]
Solar sisters for the win!
At the beginning of the month, the Western Cape’s commitment to a green economy saw a multi-million-rand boost for the local production of solar panels.
A brand new, R26 million solar panel manufacturer opened in Ndabeni, Cape Town.
This particular plant is not only impressive for manufacturing affordable solar panels for low-income households in sub-Saharan Africa but also because its workforce constitutes only women!
Indeed, this is Africa’s first all-female-run solar plant:
The plant has the ability to produce approximately 20 000 solar panels a month, with 20W panels selling for R314 each.
Incredible.
The plant was launched by EnerG-Africa, an African company set on tackling the challenges of climate change through research, development and the manufacturing of clean energy products, notes IOL.
#Energy Ener-G-Africa has today launched its new 15 MW per annum, women-led solar panel assembly plant at its Cape Town headquarters. KB pic.twitter.com/eMC3vpo7dj
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 2, 2023
The new Mother City plant will focus on bringing power to low-income communities with smaller solar panels and be run by an all-female team:
Ener-G-Africa CEO Andre Moolman said that because factory workers in all sectors were predominantly men he wanted to give this employment opportunity to women from previously disadvantaged communities.
With a maximum capacity of 15MW per annum, operating 24 hours a day, five days a week, the plant has already created 53 jobs.
Economic Growth Mayco member James Vos, who officiated at the opening of the plant, said: “With an increased demand for solar panels, we can create job opportunities for the millions of currently unemployed South Africans. One report showed that the solar PV industry alone could create up to 30 000 jobs a year.”
Moolman said that this is the first and only small solar panel plant in the world certified by TUV Rheinland (a leading provider of technical services worldwide), which means that “some of Africa’s poorest communities will have access to solar with the highest quality certification available”.
The production manager at the plant, Rene Salmon, celebrated by saying, “It’s looking bright for females of colour”.
So good to see the City pushing ahead with projects that support alternative energy supply opportunities to create a more economically sustainable future.
[source:iol]
