Genergy: Solar Electrical System INTRODUCTION: GENERGY – Northam Platinum’s Booysendal Mine
A new solar electrical system designed and installed by Genergy, a registered Energy Services Company and Sessa member, this system has been operational since May 2012 in the area on the border of Limpopo and Mpumalanga at Northam Platinum’s Booysendal Mine.
As a PGMs development, mining and beneficiation company, Northam recognizes that its activities have an impact on the environment, and one of the many ways it is addressing this is by introducing various energy saving solutions.
The ablution block where the solar farm has been installed is a new development and anticipated to reduce energy usage by 50% compared to conventional electrical resistance heating. The estimated 1095MWH per annum is anticipated to reduce to 547MWH per annum.
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE SOLAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
120 flat plate solar collectors were installed in 4 banks; 6 across, 5 deep, on the specially re-enforced ablution block roof. This created a collector area of 240m2 (210m2 absorber area) – a total 510m2 footprint on roof.
One of Genergy’s goals is to make a significant contribution to the reduction in the energy consumption and carbon output in our region. The Booysendal installations anticipate a reduction of 563 tonnes of CO2 per annum and a reduction of 306 tonnes of coal per annum.
CAPACITY AND UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC’S OF THE SOLAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Genergy’s hot water heating system has the capacity to accommodate 1,000 users using 60,000 litres of hot water daily. 2 x custom made 15,000 litre storage vessels were installed with the ability to increase this by another 2 vessels using a modular extension when needed in the near future.
