Maxon Wheel Factory in South Africa gets solar powers to reduce costs

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Maxin wheelsWheel Producers and Suppliers for Passenger and Commercial Vehicles, and TiraOne of the leading commercial and industrial (C&I) solar and storage solution providers from South Africa, has recently announced that the 2.9 MWP solar project, which strengthens the Manufacturing Plant in Johannesburg, is now living. The energy was celebrated at South Africa’s 60th anniversary program.

Solar plant was installed in carport and ground Mount solar configuration. This 2.9 MWP plant will supply electricity to meet the annual energy requirements of this facility, which can reduce the dependence of Maxon on the national grid and protect against the increase in energy -related tariffs. South Africa’s electricity prices have been at an upstairs speed in the last 20 years. This plant will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 5,100 tonnes each year. The second phase of additional roof solar capacity is scheduled for completion in Q1 2026, which is likely to connect the battery energy storage system (Bess) for energy mediation and backup power.

South Africa’s Automotive Council, Namasa, says that South Africa’s automotive industry contributes 5.3 % of GDP and supports more than 500,000 jobs in Value China. This sector faces increasing pressure due to global trade barriers, increasing competitiveness and decoration requirements, operators in the automotive business will have to consider unlocking operational eligibility. For manufacturers such as Maxin wheels, the largest input cost of electricity is due to energy -related processes. Therefore, it is important to manage energy costs to maintain competitiveness. In the solar industry over the past decade, rapid progress results in the cost of decreasing solar costs. This means that solar energy now offers a accessible solution that enables manufacturers to reduce and manage, improve flexibility and reduce climate effects.

There has been a lot of progress in the solar industry since 2015. This timeline is consistent with the first time I joined the commercial and industrial solar sector in South Africa. Around 2015, I joined a company that was one of the first to present the long -term PPA for the C&I sector in East and South Africa. Around 2015, the PPA (with no storage), 15 to 20 years of grid, was nearing equality with the actual mixed energy costs of consumers per kg. At the cost of mixed energy, I mean the price per kilo from all their energy sources, including grid, and electricity from the backup diesel generator. Diesel generators were frequently used in several markets due to repeated power outages. The last PPA price per kilowatt per kW per kW is a larger driver of the fully installed solar cost. And in 2015, the solar panel cost more than 60 cents/W. Now, 10 years later, solar panels are going to less than 12 cents/W in multiple markets, as well as reduction of similar costs for complete bills on a fully installed system, now less than and even lower than the grid tariffs per kg.

Deliverying a significant part of their day -time consumption from the grid with low cost solar, companies are now getting the benefits of all this progress in the solar industry. Maxine’s Johannesburg Factory produces high -precision aluminum wheels for large automotive OEM users in South Africa. Globally, steel and aluminum wheels maker, Maxon, produces about 50 million wheels every year at 31 locations at five continents. Maxon South Africa says the mission for constant up -time Maxon is critical in view of the plant’s most industrial process. Therefore, power -up time is a condition. The plant relies on wide machinery, including various robots, integrated foundry systems, and automatic conveyor networks that work 24 hours. The increase of the solar plant was a priority, to ensure the continuous supply of electricity while meeting strict health, safety and operational standards at every stage of the deployment of the solar project.

Terra Farah says the company developed, designed, engineered and installed, and will manage and maintain its lifetime under a comprehensive multi -year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) (PPA). The PPA delivery model offers the benefits of solar costs and reduction of GHG emissions, without capital costs or property risks. Terra firm has implemented more than 500 projects in South Africa and the region.

“Maxon Wheels is the 60th anniversary of South Africa’s 60th anniversary that they have the opportunity to celebrate the legacy of our manufacturing virtue while looking forward to how we can strengthen our leadership and flexibility for decades to come,” Maxon Wells said South Africa’s Managing Director, Melos Despotchuch. “Connecting renewable energy into our works by 2040, our roadmap indicates an important milestone in the strategy of zero, and strengthens our position as a global leader in modern manufacturing.”

“We thank Maxon Wheele, CEO Grant Brandson, CEO of Terrava that he entrusts Tara Farah as his energy partner to revive the project.” “Together, we are showing how the solar power helps to enable South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector to enable long -term stability, flexibility and global competitiveness.”

Thanks to all this progress in the global solar sector, South Africa’s solar sector, especially residential and C&I sector, is on the rise. You can see how much solar landscape has grown in South Africa since 2016.

There is more good news from the rest of the African continent. Many countries in the African continent are now widespread solar power! In the last 12 months, imports from China increased by 60 % to 15,032 MW. Market subsidy, discounts, or governments are not driven by any other privileges. The growth has been driven by private corporations such as Maxon Wheels, Residential Solar, and some utility scale projects. Central driver companies and home have been housing who want to reduce their energy bills. Since the business issue for solar powers is getting better every day, more companies and businesses will run solar power. Solar mini grid projects will also be commercially viable to help increase access to electricity, which will help tackle today’s biggest challenges, with more than 1 billion people not accessing electricity.

Image courtesy of Maxon and Tira