Soventix to build 304 kWp roof-mounted PV system

6th May 2013 By: Idéle Esterhuizen

Photovoltaic (PV) project development and construction company Soventix South Africa has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction contract worth more than R5-million to build a roof-mounted PV plant for printed circuit board manufacturer Bosco’s Edenvale factory.

The plant would have an initial capacity of 304 kWp, which could be extended to 560 kWp in a second construction phase.

Construction of the first phase was due to start in July, or as soon as approval had been received from national power provider Eskom, and would take between two and four months to implement and commission.

Soventix GM for sub-Saharan Africa Rowan Jacklin told Engineering News Online that the start of the second phase of construction would probably take place within the next year, but that this would depend on the performance of the first phase.

The plant would consist of more than 1 200 high-voltage PV Jinko Solar modules and 19 SMA inverters. With each module providing 250 W, the solar power plant would produce about 505 MWh/y of electricity.

The system would also prevent the emission of almost 500 t/y of carbon dioxide (CO2), thereby reducing Bosco’s electricity bill and allowing the company to benefit from a reduction in carbon tax, which is to be introduced in South Africa.

Last week, National Treasury published a second policy paper, detailing its aims to introduce a carbon tax for implementation from January 1, 2015. A tax of R120/t of CO2-equivalent was proposed, with a 60% tax-free emissions threshold and some exemptions for heavy emitters.

In addition to planning and construction, Soventix would provide a consultative service, offering support in assesing whether the qualification for an Eskom rebate had been achieved along with a range of other consulting services.