Africa's first solar-powered airport launched

Minister of Transport Dipuo
Peters – along with Airports
Company South Africa (Acsa) –
launched Africa’s first solar plant
at the George airport on Friday.
Skhumbuzo Macozoma,
chairman of the Acsa board,
pointed out that the R16-million
solar power plant had taken six
months to complete and had been
completed two months ahead of
schedule.
“The project is currently in its
first phase and the solar plant
will supply 41% of the airport’s
current energy demand. The
balance will be drawn from the
national grid with supply capacity
steadily being increased,” he said,
adding that the plant had been
designed to deliver 750Kw of power
to the airport once completed.
Macozoma said Acsa planned
to introduce an energy mix into
all its airports to achieve carbon
neutrality in energy consumption.
“Harnessing solar power is a
viable cleaner energy source that
contributes towards diversifying
the energy mix."
CAPTION
Seen at the launch… Executive mayor of George, Charles Standers; Transport Minister, Dipuo Peters;
Western Cape MEC for Transport, Donald Grant; and Acsa board chairman, Skhumbuzo Macozoma.