In South Africa, concerns over escalating electricity tariffs and energy security continue to trouble the agricultural sector. A family-owned farm near Malelane has addressed these issues by adopting a solar-powered solution, significantly reducing energy costs and ensuring continuous production. The Radley Landgoed's solar installation, with 80% of its panels placed atop one of the estate's irrigation dams, spans 3,350 square metres, making it a notable project in Mpumalanga and the region's only 'water-borne' solar plant. This initiative, which was recently activated, connects to the farm through a seven-kilometre pylon network.
Financed by Standard Bank's Business and Commercial Banking division, the project, which can generate up to 1.8GWh of power, allows the estate to operate off-grid when necessary. Yaseen Guman from Standard Bank highlighted the project's financial viability, with costs expected to be recouped in about 10 years, and a lifespan extending to 30 years. The solar plant has eliminated the need for generators, reducing operating costs and mitigating production losses due to power outages.
For the Radley family, the decision to go solar was driven by the need to overcome the challenges posed by load shedding, which disrupted their farming activities. The estate, which includes citrus, sugar cane, mango orchards, and a Nguni cattle stud, now enjoys a stable power supply, ensuring uninterrupted irrigation and productivity.
Source: proagri.co.za