MechChem Africa March 2017

PV training creates sustainable employment

ARTsolar, South Africa’s locally owned photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing plant in, has implemented a certified training and facilities upgrade programme at its New Germany plant in KwaZulu-Natal.

“ A s part of our pledge to create sustainable employment in manufacturing in the private sector, ARTsolar has offered intensive staff training to ensure every step in the quality control of producing PV panels is inaccordancewith international standards,” says Qaphela Zikhali, ARTsolar’s operations manager. “ARTsolar, in conjunction with ex- pert instructors andengineers fromGermany, Switzerland and China, has provided skills training to over 200 local matriculants. “The company’s training initiative also forms part of our commitment to providing long term solutions to the development of renewable energy in South Africa and our support of the Government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), where the creation of job opportunities, local con- tent and community development remain

essential ingredients of the programme. “By utilising the latest environmentally- friendly technology to convert solar energy toelectrical power, ARTsolar provides reliable and independent electricity to support the country’s growing economy and to combat the effects of rising utility costs. Local inter- est in PV technology has heightened since the launch of the REIPPPP and PV modules are gaining popularity as a formof renewable energy that is clean, emission and noise-free, sustainable, safe and cost-efficient.” ARTsolar – thefirst local PVmodulemanu- facturer to participate in the REIPPPP – has completed the module supply of 65 MW in Round 2 and 86 MW in Round 3 and will continue to expand its facilities at the plant tomeet production requirements for thenext phase of this programme. Expanded facilities have a production capacity of 130 MWper year, which equates

Modules are soldered either automatically by robots or manually by skilled employees on the same line. to approximately 412-thousand, 315 Wp Polycrystalline PV panel modules. The companywill againpartnerwith inter- national PV companies to ensure production for the REIPPPP in 2017 continues to meet stringent quality, safety and environmen- tal standards. Modules will also adhere to Government requirements, which include the percentage of local content necessary. ARTsolar,withanunderstandingofdistinct South African conditions, is committed to the development of PV modules specifically suited to local climate conditions. PV panels are designed for large-scale power plants, mines and rural electrification, as well as industrial and residential roofing. Modules with enhanced aesthetics are manufactured for residential and commercial installations. “This environmentally friendly systemcan also be integrated into roofs and facades to reduce the energy that buildings consume,” suggests Zikhali. q

ARTsolar has made a substantial investment in new equipment to meet the REIPPPP production requirements.

30 ¦ MechChem Africa • March 2017