Solar power is a smart investment
South Africa’s energy landscape is becoming increasingly unpredictable, and businesses are grappling with rising costs and instability of energy supply. Solar energy solutions present not just an opportunity, but a necessary step towards financial resilience and operational efficiency.
Solar solutions: a financial game-changer
The country’s grid infrastructure struggles to keep up with demand and interrupted power supply disrupt operations and can result in significant financial losses. For industries that rely on consistent energy, the cost of interruptions can be catastrophic.
The situation is compounded by the rising cost of electricity. Between 2008 and 2022, South Africa’s electricity tariffs quadrupled, forcing businesses to absorb unsustainable cost increases. Indications suggest that this trend will likely continue, making energy affordability a growing concern for all sectors. So yes, installing a solar power and energy storage solution may be a costly upfront investment, but with the rising costs of grid energy, future energy costs are not within your control. By having a solar solution installed, they are, in effect, buying their future energy today, making financial and operational planning decisions much more predictable.
Simply relying on the national grid is no longer viable if you want to maintain your business’ operational stability and reduce financial risk. Your business can greatly benefit from bespoke commercial solar and energy storage solutions, designed to meet specific current and future energy demands, reduce reliance on the grid and stabilise costs.
Batteries are not merely for load shedding
Batteries are certainly not merely useful to manage power interruptions such as load shedding. While solar energy alone is a powerful solution, integrating it with battery energy storage enhances its impact dramatically. Energy storage systems are essential for ensuring the continuous and efficient use of renewable energy.
BESS allows businesses to store excess solar energy generated during the day and use it during peak demand or in the event of disruptions. This ensures that the benefits of solar energy extend beyond daylight hours, maximising the return on investment for solar systems. Even in the absence of solar energy, time-of-use arbitrage can be applied. By storing grid electricity when prices are low (typically during off-peak hours) and using it during high-demand periods, BESS enables more predictable and manageable energy costs.
When the grid is already operating at or near full capacity, it often cannot accommodate the additional power generation from new solar systems, and then clients may face difficulty in connecting new solar installations to the grid. Capacity issues need not pose a serious barrier to your business growth. With intelligently engineered solutions, you can have a reliable and independent power supply, even when the grid cannot accept new generation capacity.
Building a sustainable future
Beyond the financial benefits, investing in solar energy solutions also aligns businesses with the global shift towards sustainability. Consumers and stakeholders increasingly favour companies that are environmentally responsible. By adopting renewable energy, businesses can reduce their carbon footprint, meet their industry’s export requirements where relevant, and enhance their brand image, gaining a competitive edge.
Thinking ahead: the importance of proactive energy planning
Businesses that take control of their energy needs today will be better positioned to succeed in future. The key to navigating the energy landscape is proactive planning and investment in sustainable energy solutions. For this, you need an experienced energy partner. There are several factors to consider, including experience, expertise and longevity of the business. RenEnergy has 12 years of proven experience in engineering commercial energy solutions, and we have been installing commercial energy storage solutions since 2019.
RenEnergy: international IP, local application
RenEnergy’s primary trading territories are the United Kingdom (founded in 2006) and South Africa (founded in 2012), from where we consult on, design and deliver innovative renewable energy solutions to commercial clients around the world. Having an understanding of international energy markets gives us relevance and longevity in what is actually still a young industry. We have deep understanding of the energy landscape, where energy is moving to and behind the metre IP. Our IP in technology and the application thereof is a substantial differentiator from new market entrants, especially in the energy storage space.
In 2023, RenEnergy became part of the international energy group, Aggreko – an important milestone in our growth journey and testimony to quality engineering and solutions. While RenEnergy retains the agility and entrepreneurial spirit that’s made our business successful, we now also have the backing of a global business to deliver more renewable energy solutions to more clients. RenEnergy is thriving and growing.
Power partner
At RenEnergy, we believe in fostering long-term partnerships with our clients. This dedication is evident, as 58% of our business in 2023 resulted from returning clients, a testament to the partnerships, reputation and trust we have built within the industry. We provide more than just a product - we offer a partnership in building a sustainable, energy-independent future.
Solar energy is not merely an environmental solution; it’s a strategic financial investment that can future-proof your business.
Talk to one of our expert energy consultants about how your business can benefit from energy storage.