THE Ekurhuleni municipality has approved the connection of a large solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and battery system at food and beverage company PepsiCo Sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA’s) large distribution centre, near Kempton Park.
The new PV and lithium-ion battery system will form one of South Africa’s largest microgrids, comprising a 1.8 MW solar PV facility alongside a 2.9 MWh battery, while being grid-connected to stabilise the local grid.
“This approach and investment into renewable energy forms part of our PepsiCo positive journey – a strategic end-to-end transformation with sustainability at the centre of how the company will create growth and value,” said PepsiCo SSA engineering sustainability lead Umesh Himraj.
PepsiCo SSA procured the system from solar power company SOLA, which engineered and built the microgrid system, to secure energy supply and reduce carbon emissions, calling it a “landmark project” in the renewable energy space.
“The solution that we devised uses the roof space at PepsiCo’s facility to house solar modules, which generate enough solar electricity during the day to run the plant entirely, and store excess power in the battery. The
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