Financing Models Now Make Technology More Affordable

Cost is one of the main reasons why farmers are struggling to adopt energy-saving technologies. Charl du Plessis, head of project development at Energy Partners Solar, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the company’s solution to this problem and new developments in solar power.

- Glenneis Kriel

Tell us more about energy partners

Energy Partners was founded in 2008 in response to South Africa’s first energy crisis, which resulted in widespread load shedding that started at the end of 2007. We initially offered management consultancy services with a degree of actual implementation, advising businesses on ways to improve their energy efficiency and implementing behavioural change processes and the use of improved technologies, such as LED lights, power factor correction, voltage optimisation, and refrigeration control optimisation. Our services helped Pick n Pay to almost halve its energy consumption.

In 2014, we expanded our services to address the affordability issue by offering turn-key engineer, procure, construct solar, refrigeration, steam, water and fuel as utilities by way of various power and utility purchase agreements.

Tell us more about PSG's involvement with the company

PSG Alpha Investments is a subsidiary of the PSG Group, with a mandate to support companies with exceptional growth potential. It has held the majority share in Energy Partners since 2011, after which it has made substantial investments in the company.

How has energy partners performed in recent years?

Revenue has grown by 82% over the past five years to R561 million and is predicted to grow to R790 million in the 2019 financial year.

What makes energy partners solar different from its competitors?

We have integrated technology and financial structuring to an unprecedented level in the commercial, industrial and agricultural markets in sub-Saharan Africa. As far as we know, we have the biggest solar power purchase agreement footprint in Africa. In other words, we’re able to generate power more cheaply than the grid, with complete ownership flexibility for our clients.