South Africa's electricity is ranked as the 10th most expensive in the world, and with the National Energy Regulator (Nersa) having also approved a 9.4% hike for Eskom for 2016/17, we can expect to climb those rankings. NUS Consulting, a global energy management consulting firm, which researches the state of energy markets, says we pay more for our power than countries such as Poland, Australia and Canada.
 
Since 2009, prices for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules have fallen roughly 80%, says the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena). It also released a report in June, stating that the solar industry is poised for massive expansion, driven primarily by cost reductions. It estimates that solar PV capacity could reach between 1,760 and 2,500 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, up from 227 GW today.
 
KJION Energy SA, a subsidiary of ICT Group Holdings, provides PV solutions with or without battery storage for large commercial and industrial sites, with the benefit of offsite monitoring. These customised solutions offer completely self-sustainable, off-the-grid requirements, as well as backup, on-grid PV needs, as well as a solar trailer for mobile requirements.
 
"For companies that have large warehousing facilities, PV panels on the roof to supply their power makes real economic sense" says Johann Wassermann, Sales Manager at KJION Energy SA. "Capex can be written off entirely in one year and Sars offers tax incentives per saved grid kWh spent too. The return on investment  for solar has come down drastically in the last few years and depending on the batteries used, it ranges from 3-5 years for lead acid batteries and 10-15 years for lithium-ion. But the efficiency and cost of batteries is also constantly improving" says Wassermann. And financing options are becoming more available through most banks and investors, he adds.
 
Robotic cleaning tool
 
KJION has recently launched a robotic cleaning device for large solar plants to the local market. "It's programmable for when cleaning should take place and it's powered by its own panel" says Paul Fried, KJION CEO. "It uses particularly soft brushes to avoid scratching and damaging the panels, which is often a problem when panels are cleaned manually. Dirty panels reduce power output and this tool can increase it by 35%. It also detects hot spots which cause power production problems and these can then be investigated and resolved." This system can be included in new implementations, as well as added to existing solar sites as standalone additions.
 
Warehousing solutions
 
For organisations that wish to install solar on their roofs, KJION does a site survey to ensure structural strength for the weight of the panels and to ensure that the electrical distribution boards are compliant. "If we find that a site doesn't meet the requirements, we're able to assist in upgrading the electrical layout or providing suitable contractors who can assist on the structural side" says Wassermann.
 
Offsite monitoring
 
As part of their PV solar installations, KJION offers offsite monitoring, to ensure that systems are running optimally and smoothly. "This is part of our after-market support, which is as important to us as the installation of our panels" says Wassermann. "With solar, maintenance is really low, but we've found that we can offer support in energy management with our offsite monitoring offering. We like to walk the distance with our clients."
 
"I'm incredibly optimistic for KJION" says Fried." Electrical power costs will continue to increase and once we hit the break-even point with solar and Eskom costs, there will be no reason not to go solar. In addition, companies here will have to start compensating for their carbon footprint as they do in Europe, where they must have a CO2 rating certificate."