Bo-Radyn invests in solar power system

© Ramona Heim – za.fotolia.com

This is set to reduce 20% of the energy costs of its fruit packing and cold storage facility and contain rising electricity costs over the 25 year guaranteed lifespan of the system. It generates approximately 162kWp to ensure the continuous power necessary to maintain the stringent quality control of Bo-Radyn's fruit destined for the European Union and other global markets.

"A key challenge of this project was that, unlike conventional IBR metal sheet roofing, the solar panels had to be installed on fibre cement roofs. To meet such unconventional challenges, SolarWorld has a range of mounting solutions for any rooftop," says Andre Potgieter, CEO of Energyworx.
The innovative roof-top installation comprises 648 Sunmodule plus SW 250 Poly modules with SMA 3 phase grid tied inverters.

National benchmark

"We are delighted that our partner Energyworx has chosen SolarWorld technology for this innovative project to sustain the high quality standards and competitive advantage of Bo-Radyn. This not only builds on its history for innovation in the Villiersdorp region, but is also setting a national benchmark for sustainable agricultural farming," comments Gregor Küpper, managing director of SolarWorld South Africa.

This multi-million rand state-of-the art system is designed to feed directly into Bo-Radyn's internal electricity grid, offsetting carbon consumption and replacing approximately 25% of future electricity demand.

Adds Potgieter: "Fruit packing facilities are well suited for solar electricity. They are dependent on cold storage facilities which have load profiles that are a perfect match for solar. During summer, when they need to work the hardest to keep temperatures constant, the solar panels performance are also at their peak, this greatly reduces the high demand that would otherwise be placed on coal-powered electricity."

Risks of power cuts

Villiersdorp is known for deciduous fruit farming and farmers depend on electricity from Eskom via the Theewaterskloof Municipality for their land irrigation, fruit packing, cold storage and housing facilities. To minimise the growing risks of electricity power cuts, an innovative energy solution had to be found for Bo-Radyn to secure continuous power 365 days a year.

Bo-Radyn is owned by three Le Roux brothers, Stephanus, Braham and Timo. While Stephanus manages production, Braham oversees the fruit packaging and Timo manages the finance, marketing and human resources.

Explains Timo le Roux: "Everyone is a cog in the wheel of success and our mantra at Bo-Radyn is 'think or sink'. Sustainability is vitally important to us. Therefore, in addition to cultivating fruit, we pride ourselves on cultivating the power of innovative thinking among management and workers to find solutions to ever-emerging problems. A farm is a universe unto the universe and it is in the interest of farmers globally to take measures to protect the environment, contain our use of non-renewable energy and find ways to sustain our eco-system. Solar electricity was a natural fit for us at Bo-Radyn."