• Solar PV has been installed at one of the health department’s administration buildings, Bellville Health Park at Karl Bremer Hospital.

• The project could make a huge difference in ensuring the office park is cushioned from load-shedding.

Solar PV has been installed at one of the health department’s administration buildings, Bellville Health Park at Karl Bremer Hospital.

Solar PV has been installed at one of the health department’s administration buildings, Bellville Health Park at Karl Bremer Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Alan Winde of Western Premier Cape said that the project is one of several renewable energy initiatives that will ensure that the province is energy resilient. This project is expected to save the Western Cape government millions of rand in electricity bills and cushion it from load-shedding.

The project started in October last year and it has seen 1,400 solar panels installed above parking bays at the facility. The ground-mounted solar system is linked to five separate inverter stations mounted in vandal-proof and theft-resistant cages, it generates 663kWp. The inverter stations connect to the solar panels and convert direct current to alternating current in the building. From here, cables connect it to a miniature substation that provides power to the administration building, which is connected to the rest of the Karl Bremer hospital precinct electrical network.

The project could make a huge difference in ensuring the office park is cushioned from load-shedding.

While Alan toured the facility, he noted that the project could make a huge difference in ensuring the office park is cushioned from load-shedding. He said, “Our services must be protected as far as possible from blackouts, and through this initiative, we are making sure this is the case. Apart from the solar panels installed on the parking bays, Bellville Health Park’s entire roof is also fitted with solar PV panels, boosting its energy production.” He also believes that it has the potential to save the facility up to R5m in electricity costs each year. The solar roof will not only result in having its power, “but our employees and clients also get shaded parking”.

He also encouraged the private sector to play its part in generating renewable energy. “Together we will be able to bolster our energy security drive. We have made it a priority for our government to find ways to mitigate the impact of blackouts on our services. This has been demonstrated through our budgetary allocations across our departments as well as meaningful investments. The newly launched Western Cape Department of Infrastructure has been key in helping to boost energy efficiency at government-owned buildings and facilities.”

According to Winde, a long-term plan to develop and maintain critical infrastructure projects is an important component of the latest solar project.

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