Africa's First Solar Powered Airport Launches in George
The South African city of George has just become home to the first solar-powered airport in Africa, with the recent installation of 3,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels spearheaded by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). The US$101,000 solar farm, which first kicked off in March 2015 and has a capacity of 750 kW, is set to supply 41% of the airport’s energy demand for the next 25 to 30 years.
With South Africa’s soon-to-be implemented carbon taxes, businesses in the country are increasingly looking into green energy, and ACSA is no different.
The group executive for airports at ACSA, Andre Vermeulen, stated at the opening ceremony they wish to have all six of their regional airports running on solar in the next 18 months, an investment that will cost in the neighbourhood of $570,000. The construction of solar farms at the airports in Kimberley and Upington are already underway.
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Michael Mazengarb