Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems integrator Romano Group has been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a 360 kWp grid-tied solar PV system to be installed on the roof of Eskom’s Megawatt Park head office, in Johannesburg.

This was the first project of several envisaged in a programme by the parastatal to roll out renewable-energy systems and energy-saving applications at several of its facilities.

Romano representative Bruce Conne told Engineering News Online on Wednesday that the company had started preliminary on-site investigative work at Megawatt Park.

“This project will push our installed capacity of rooftop PV projects to more than 1 MW, which is quite impressive considering that South Africa’s PV industry is still in its infancy,” added Romano CEO Alexi Romano.

The bulk of the solar PV systems provided by Romano were grid-tied systems that enabled the electricity generated to be used either on site by the client or be exported to the national or municipal electricity grid. 

Romano had commissioned four rooftop PV projects since the beginning of the year, including a 300 kWp project and a 10 kWp project, both in Cape Town, as well as a 35 kWp project and a 10 kWp project, both in Johannesburg.

Romano said, while South Africa was among the most prolific global carbon emitters, it had access to one of the richest solar resources. 

“Investing in proven solar PV technology is both beneficial to the environment and a great hedge against rapidly rising electricity tariffs. A solar PV system sized to a client’s daytime electricity load will typically achieve a payback of between four and six years – after which the electricity generated by the system is free,” he commented.

Conne added that the company had observed growing interest from commercial and industrial organisations in the last few years.

“In addition, our potential clients are far more informed and educated when it comes to solar PV systems than ever before,” he noted.