Local manufacturer turns to solar power

Pioneer Foods Klerksdorp with the solar panels.

Food and beverage manufacturer Pioneer Foods has joined forces with energy solutions service provider Energy Partners to roll out a national solar programme for its production plants.

The programme entails the installation of large commercial solar systems with a combined size of over 2 531 kilowatt peak (kWp) at five of Pioneer’s manufacturing facilities - including Wadeville, Clayville, Bloemfontein, Klerksdorp and Worcester. The project is expected to yield a total savings of R116 million over the next 25 years.

Manie de Waal, head of the solar division at Energy Partners, said:  “The solar programme allows the sites to generate solar electricity for their own consumption at a cost of up to 18% less than that of an electricity supplier.”