- MTN South Africa is energising the first phase of its solar renewable energy project at its 14th Avenue headquarters.
- The headquarters now boast of the municipal/Eskom grid, gas generators, diesel generators, solar PV, and a battery energy storage system.
MTN South Africa announced today the energisation of the first phase of its solar renewable energy project at its 14th Avenue headquarters. With over half of the project completed, the network operator has activated 5,418 solar panels out of the planned 9,000.
Also, this phased approach will contribute 700kW to its microgrid, reducing the headquarters’ reliance on the municipal grid by 40%. The company’s goal is to contribute a total of 1.8MW by the end of February, with the battery storage facility expected to be installed by the end of March.
Likewise, this advancement builds on MTN’s pioneering role as a standalone Independent Power Producer (IPP), deploying five different generation technologies in a single plant at its headquarters in Fairlands, Johannesburg. This promises substantial annual energy consumption savings of 9.3 GWh and a reduction in CO2 emissions by 9,672 tons.
The headquarters now boasts multiple energy sources, including the municipal/Eskom grid, gas generators, diesel generators, solar PV, and a battery energy storage system. Intelligent controllers enable dynamic energy management under various scenarios, ensuring optimal utilisation.
Furthermore, Charles Molapisi, CEO at MTN South Africa, said, “MTN SA set its sights on achieving net zero emissions by 2040, a decade ahead of industry objectives“. MTN launched the first phase of its solar renewable energy project in 2023.
The solar park, a 4.9MW solar embedded generation plant, and the groundbreaking Island Mode Project, which will see MTN leveraging a combination of gas, solar, battery and diesel technologies working in cohesion to create a microgrid, are pivotal in positioning MTN to go off the grid during load shedding.”
Moreover, Molapisi added, “MTN SA remains committed to the net-zero journey, planning subsequent phases to solidify its commitment to the SBTi pledge and achieve the 2030 target. MTN SA remains at the forefront of sustainable practices, driving positive environmental impact while embracing groundbreaking technologies.”