Simplifying Solar Solutions for SA’s Education Sector

For educational administrators, exercising prudence when it comes to cost management is nothing new, but in the wake of the economic strain intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic, this discipline is now more important than ever.

Investment in facilities that enhance the experience of learners is essential in delivering quality education – but so too is the need to cap costs and limit fee increases.

South Africa’s energy crisis

With steep electricity tariff hikes and no end to power outages in sight, South Africa’s energy crisis can no longer be ignored.

After more than a decade of loadshedding South Africa experienced its worst year yet in 2021 according to PwC, with 2400-gigawatt hours of blackouts, up 38% from the previous period. And with Eskom estimating up to 101 days of loadshedding in the 2022 winter months alone, prospects are not looking promising.

 The cost to educational institutions is also mounting in the form of further electricity price hikes. 2021 saw a 15.6% increase in tariffs and a further 9.6% hike in 2022 – and looming carbon taxes and purchases from independent power producers may force Eskom to hike rates again by over 20% in the coming years.

Lowering electricity costs and building energy resilience in the education sector

There is some good news. In 2021, Government amended Schedule 2 of the Electricity Generation Act, granting permission to private entities to self-generate up to 100 megawatts of power without requiring a NERSA licence to do so.

In South Africa we experience an average of 2 500 hours of sun every year, making Solar Photovoltaic (PV) a viable way to build energy resilience and cut costs.

Solar solutions are flexible in terms of either offsetting electricity usage during sunshine hours with use of panels and inverters, or by also combining a battery storage system to power your institution in the event of outages.

A further benefit of solar power is that it enables educational institutions to champion sustainability goals by lowering harmful emissions and building an environment that fosters renewable-energy aware, eco-conscious learners.

Solar-Powering Your Campus: Minimising risk and wasteful spending

When it comes to solar PV commercial installations – such as those on campuses – for those who are not experts in the renewable energy sector it can be challenging to accurately assess their needs, evaluate proposals, compare specifications on the recommended components, identify the quality of the proposed technology and warranties, vet suppliers and calculate costs versus expected return.

PowerPulse by Standard Bank is a digital platform designed to help your organisation cut through this fog and navigate the complex process of commercial solar PV installations with ease – by delivering a transparent and comprehensive technical, legal, and funding solution.

PowerPulse assists primary, secondary, and tertiary education facilitators to:

• Complete an online feasibility assessment based on the consumption, size and site of your campus
• Set-up site visits and briefing sessions with accredited, pre-vetted Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) providers that have the right expertise and track records
• Receive three proposals with a comparison report to help you assess these quotes and compare like-for-like on:
  • Quality, specifications, and warranties of proposed components
  • Sizing of the system in relation to your annual consumption load profile, specific needs and your future growth projections
  • Pricing calculations with cashflow implications for your school
  • Payback periods with scenarios that both include and exclude South Africa’s 12 B tax incentive
  • Ongoing maintenance costs
• Technical and legal assistance to ensure all local municipal and Eskom compliance regulations for solar PV connections are met
• And finally, should you require funding, Standard Bank offers a specialised financing solution for solar energy projects beginning at R250 000, with no upper limit constraint.

Usage of the PowerPulse service is free

• The PowerPulse platform is free for use by any business or organisation operating in South Africa
• There is no charge for completing the feasibility analysis or connecting with pre-vetted EPC suppliers
• All costs related to the Solar PV installation and ongoing maintenance will be listed in the proposals you receive via the platform
• Project financing fees apply.

Interested to learn more?

Click here for more information on how to register on the PowerPulse platform and begin your journey to energy cost-cutting and resilience today.