The South African solar company ARTsolar has established the first solar panel manufacturing plant in KwaZulu-Natal and intends to play a significant role in the growth of solar PV throughout sub-Saharan Africa and the African continent.
“ART Solar uses the latest PV technology to convert solar energy to electricity” said Dr Ronald Lange, chief operating officer for ART Solar. “By utilising this environmentally-friendly technology to generate electrical power, the company provides long term solutions to the current and predicted electricity issues facing South Africa. These modules are easy to install and require no maintenance, apart from occasional cleaning. Other important features are the 25 year guarantee offered by ART Solar and an estimated 40 year lifetime of the module. The company also offers a technical advisory and support service throughout the country.”
Mr Lange added that customers value the flexibility offered by the company’s highly skilled team which design and produce solar modules to customer’s exact requirements. Other important factors include local content, black economic empowerment and enhanced aesthetics. ARTsolar has also made a significant investment in the latest equipment from Swiss equipment manufacturer Meyer Burger Swiss Solar Systems with additional benefits from shared technology with global PV specialists.
The modules are certified by TüV Rheinland in Germany and adhere to stringent International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specifications.
The company was established by entrepreneur Mark Walsh and is currently the most modern and most automated plant in Africa according to the company. Interest in PV in South Africa has increased dramatically since the South African government launched its Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) in 2011. The government’s aim is to establish 1.45GW of PV capacity by the end of 2014 and as the first South African-owned company ARTsolar is well placed to take advantage of this.
The company is focusing on the larger REIPPP projects of between 40MW to 70MW but the panels will be suitable for all PV applications. While the solar cells themselves will be imported, the company intends to source as many of the other components as possible from local sources particularly the frames and the glass.
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