Private school group launching R85 million solar project in South Africa
Inspired Schools, owner of the Reddam House private school brand in South Africa, says it will be rolling out a major solar project next month to power 11 schools in the country.
Valued at approximately R85 million, the project will be launched in September and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The project aims to mitigate the impact of load shedding and ensure uninterrupted learning for students. It follows a pilot solar project that launched at Reddam House Constantia in November 2022.
The group said that it will be working with an engineering company that will oversee the design, installation and maintenance of the solar system at all 11 schools.
“The rollout of this groundbreaking solar energy project will involve the installation of cutting-edge solar panels and large-scale lithium batteries across our schools’ campuses. These panels will generate clean and sustainable electricity, ensuring uninterrupted power supply during load shedding periods,” the group said.
“By embracing renewable energy, Inspired Schools South Africa is not only mitigating the effects of load shedding but also reducing its carbon footprint and contributing to a greener future.”
Solar boom
The Inspired Schools project is the latest in a string of new solar builds that is feeding into a massive solar PV boom in South Africa.
The country has hit a major solar record in 2023, having imported over R8.4 billion worth of panels in the second quarter of the year – more than double the amount imported in the first quarter.
The value of imports in the first half of the year – around R12 billion – far outweighs the total for 2022, which was recorded at R5.6 billion.
The solar boom in South Africa has been primarily driven by the private sector. Since 2021, R35 billion worth of solar has been imported. While this was initially led by government-driven projects, the rush to mitigate load shedding and take advantage of tax breaks has tipped the scales in favour of the private sector.
However, the craze hasn’t come without its criticisms – local experts have lamented that South African producers and companies have missed out on scoring from the rush, as most panels are being imported from China.
Described as a ‘once-in-a-generation’ economic opportunity, South Africa’s economy is missing out on its own boom.
Meanwhile, the South African government is strengthening its dealings with China over solar, looking to secure access to more panels.
China, for its part, has donated R170 million worth of equipment to South Africa to alleviate its energy crisis, while looking to invest R500 million more.
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