Name of the Project
Project Blue Oval renewable-energy programme.

Location
Ford Motor Company Southern Africa’s (FMCSA’s) Silverton assembly plant, in Pretoria, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
The project is a partnership between FMCSA, Uhuru Africa and SolarAfrica.

Project Description
FMCSA has embarked on a pioneering solar energy project for its Silverton assembly plant as part of its vision to develop an integrated renewable-energy solution – which will include biomass, biogas, biosynthetic gas, 100% water recycling and zero waste to landfill – making it one of the first Ford plants in the world to achieve this status.

The project will comprise a 13.5 MW solar installation for the facility, which will deliver an estimated 30% of the Silverton plant’s yearly power requirements. This involves installing specially developed and locally manufactured solar photovoltaic carports throughout the facility using more than 31 000 solar panels.

Covering parking bays for about 4 200 vehicles, it will be one of the biggest solar carports in the world.

The Silverton plant produces the Ford Ranger, Ranger Raptor and Everest for the domestic market and more than 100 global export markets.

Phase 2 of Project Blue Oval aims to expand Ford’s locally sourced renewable energy to 100%, ultimately using an integrated renewable and cogeneration energy mix comprising solar energy, biomass, biogas and biosynthesis gas for all of the plant’s electricity, gas and heating requirements.

The project will also introduce 100% water recycling, and all nonfermentable waste will be repurposed through a pyrolysis system to produce syngas.

Among other solutions, Phase 2 will introduce biogas as a source of renewable energy, as well as the outsourced farming of fermentable biomass plants.

This would involve fast-growing crops, such as cacti, which only need to be planted once to be harvested often.

The farming process will be contracted out, but a portion will include community-based farming.

Uhuru Africa will develop, finance, install, commission, own and operate the entire integrated renewable-energy solution at Silverton.

FMCSA will only pay for the energy it consumes.

Potential Job Creation
The project will initially create 100 jobs. During the next phases, which are being investigated, the introduction of biomass as a source of renewable energy and the outsourced farming of fermentable biomass plants in rural areas will create opportunities for 2 400 people.

Capital Expenditure
R135-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Ford aims to have the plant entirely ‘green’ and energy self-sufficient by 2024 at which time the Silverton assembly plant will no longer rely on the national power grid or any municipal services.

First gas from Phase 2 is expected in 2022.

Latest Developments
Uhuru Energy CEO Mark Kaplan has reported that Project Blue Oval should be completed in the fourth quarter of this year.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
FMCSA corporate communications manager Dudu Nxele, tel +27 12 842 2337 or email dnxele@ford.com.