RenEnergy Africa and Aggreko shine at first-ever SAPVIA Gala

On the 13th of June, RenEnergy Africa, in partnership with Aggreko, proudly served as the platinum sponsor of the first-ever SAPVIA (South African Photovoltaic Industry Association) gala, themed ‘Celebrating a Decade in Solar’.

The evening was nothing short of spectacular, brimming with great company, new networks, and inspiring conversations. The atmosphere was electric, celebrating the remarkable growth of the renewable energy industry and its positive impact on communities.

Claude Peters, Managing Director of RenEnergy Africa, took to the stage with an inspirational talk, setting the tone for an unforgettable evening dedicated to the future of sustainable energy. Peters was accompanied by Juandré Pitout, Sales and Business Development Manager at RenEnergy, and Louis Botha, Country Manager at Aggreko.

Claude Peters, Managing Director of RenEnergy Africa.

“The transition of energy happens over time and who we became involved with last year is such a story of beauty. I started my first business in 1992 where I lived in Vienna and Austria; and I’ve never worked in an industry that is so exciting and that changes lives.

I lived in Europe for 16 years and became involved in renewable energy in EU through a company called RenEnergy. In 2012 we moved back to South Africa to set up RenEnergy Africa…We learned a lot from our UK counterparts. What happens in the EV market? What is the demand differences in load? This cross pollination of intellectual property has helped us so much as a company… What we’ve learned from energy storage, what we’ve learned from isolated loads and all of that is being implemented back in Europe..all of what we’ve learned here (in South Africa)”.

He made special reference to Aggreko, who acquired RenEnergy Africa and UK in 2023. Their strategic investment came at a crucial time when the drive for businesses, governments, and individuals to transition to a greener, cleaner world has never been stronger. Both businesses are committed to being at the forefront of this transformation.

“This next slide is fantastic, of the vision of Aggreko and us as a group where we implement projects globally…They have a real sustainable outlook, they’ve got an outlook of where we can supply power to people who don’t have any power, so we can support economies. They’ve got a force in them to install change”, Peters adds.

RenEnergy has two primary focus areas: being customer-centric and quality engineering. This dedication is evident, as 58% of our business in 2023 came from returning customers, a testament to the trust and satisfaction we have built within the industry.

In conclusion, Claude Peters raised a glass, thanking SAPVIA and all industry leaders for their contributions. He emphasised the significance of the evening, stating, “It is so important because we are celebrating something big tonight... The future of energy is renewable, clean energy.” This sentiment perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the event, highlighting the collective commitment to a sustainable and greener future. SAPVIA also adds “We celebrated where we started, where we are and where we are headed, in the presence of our solar community.”