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Q&A with Stefan Kleemann from SolarSaver

With Namibia’s abundant sunshine there is huge potential to provide farms, lodges and other businesses with solar power, even in the most remote locations, significantly enhancing the sustainability of farming and tourism operations in these areas and reducing Namibia’s reliance on faltering power producers. SolarSaver manages over 170 installations in Namibia and South Africa – offering both grid-tied and off-grid systems. Considerable investment backing allows the company to offer a unique rent-to-own model, with clients paying only against the performance of the system. With farmers facing major challenges, this at least offers a capex-free, hassle-free way to harness greener, less expensive solar power. Stefan Kleeman of SolarSaver Namibia talks through the essentials.

The proof is in the pudding – or in this case the sauce! Many would doubt that a food manufacturer producing over 1 000 bottles of tomato sauce and mayonnaise daily could go off-grid and pay less for power.  Caterserve in Windhoek, Namibia, proves otherwise. SolarSaver, a provider of customised rooftop solar photovoltaic solutions in Namibia and South Africa, has installed a 200 kW battery-solar off-grid system, taking the manufacturer completely off-grid. Caterserve now runs 100% off solar power 24 hours a day and has been able to increase its production capacity.

Inland malls benefit from free solar installations

The new Lynnwood Lane Retail Centre, a retail development from Lynx Property Developers on Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, is now powered by solar energy. The centre, which includes tenants such as Food Lover’s Market, Nando’s, Westpack Lifestyle and Dischem Pharmacies, has joined a group of forward-thinking retail centres around the country that are harnessing solar energy to limit their environmental footprint and reduce high electricity costs.  A solar photovoltaic system was installed by solar solutions company SolarSaver over 31 days during the construction of the shopping centre. “On the roof, you’ll find 872 solar panels that will produce 1 364 kWh of energy for 22 shops at the centre,” says Lance Green of SolarSaver. “This will go a long way to supplementing the 7 507 kWh of power the retail centre needs to operate on a daily basis.”

Eskom, the supplier of 95% of South Africa’s electricity, has just appointed its eleventh CEO in the last ten years, has R450 billion of debt and is surviving on state bailouts. Power shortages and policy uncertainty remain a continued threat to business and economic growth, and it remains to be seen how new Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter can work with the government to stabilise the energy provider. One thing is certain, power will not be getting any cheaper. Solar has now become viable, if not essential, option for business as capital investment costs decrease and solar providers compete to offer solutions.