MTN SA announced that it has switched on 5,418 solar panels out of a planned 9,000.
Mobile phone company MTN SA announced that it has switched on 5,418 solar panels out of a planned 9,000 as part of the first phase of its solar renewable energy project.
This comes as the mobile operator moves towards becoming a standalone independent power producer (IPP), deploying five different power generation technologies at a single plant at its headquarters in Fairlands, Johannesburg. be.
The company said in a statement that the project's phased approach will bring 700kW to the 14th Street microgrid, reducing its headquarters' dependence on municipal transmission by 40%.
The aim is to inject a total of 1,800 kilowatts by the end of February, and a storage battery facility is scheduled to be installed by the end of March.
“MTN SA aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of industry targets. The Island Mode project, which leverages a combination of , battery and diesel technologies in tandem to create a microgrid, is critical to MTN's positioning for operations,” said MTN South Africa Chief Executive Officer. (CEO) Charles Morapisi said.
In 2023, MTN launched the first phase of its solar renewable energy project, transforming its headquarters into a solar park with 4.9MW of solar power and 2MW of battery energy.
This strategic move not only positioned MTN as an important IPP, but also promised significant energy consumption savings of 9,300,000kWh and reduction of 9,672 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
The statement said the headquarters is currently equipped with multiple energy sources, including the municipal/Eskom grid, gas generators, diesel generators, solar power and battery energy storage systems. Intelligent controllers enable dynamic energy management under different scenarios and ensure optimal utilization.
According to MTN, the Island Mode project, which combines solar power, battery storage, gas regeneration, concentrated solar power and diesel generators, is expected to be completed in April 2024.
“Looking to the future, MTN SA continues its commitment to net zero, strengthens its commitment to the SBTi commitments and plans subsequent steps to achieve the 2030 target. We continue to be at the forefront of possible practices, adopting breakthrough technologies while driving positive environmental impact,” Morapisi concluded.
