Bosch Rexroth South Africa has recently partnered with solar energy company Green Wave for a large solar panel project designed to assist with reduction in power consumption at the company’s 16 000 m2 facility in Kempton Park, Johannesburg. The solar panels were installed to reduce municipal energy usage and lower the company’s carbon footprint.

The solar yield for this installation is predicted to reach 598 megawatt hours (MWh) in year one and 5 743 MWh within 10 years. This equates to the carbon dioxide that would be absorbed by almost 26 000 trees over 10 years (or 5 169 tons of carbon dioxide). This installation will assist with the cost reduction in power consumption at the six companies based within the facility Bosch Rexroth SA, Hytec SA, Tectra Automation, Hytec Services Africa, Hägglunds and HYSA – (the Group’s specialist logistical arm).

Using a flush mount design, the panels are attached to the roof. The layout allows for easy panel maintenance and an aesthetically pleasing, neat appearance.

The solution was based on actual usage data, taking weekend and weekday usage into consideration when calculating paybacks and estimate yields. By using historic usage data, Green Wave provided a yield estimate which allows for an actual vs estimate comparison.

“We look forward to a solar-powered future for Bosch Rexroth South Africa. Renewable energy is already becoming a familiar part of our lives. Innovation in this area will continue to drive new applications of solar energy technologies to improve our daily lives and help power a cleaner world – and is another example of how Bosch Rexroth SA continues to drive Africa forward.” says Dean Victor, Facilities Manager, Bosch Rexroth South Africa.