Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) is reaffirming its commitment to environmental sustainability with a substantial investment of R100 million in a groundbreaking initiative. The company plans to install 22,847 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels at its East London manufacturing plant, utilizing solar energy to generate electricity and contribute significantly to carbon reduction in the manufacturing process.
This ambitious project, constituting the second phase of MBSA’s journey towards achieving net carbon-neutral manufacturing, aligns with Mercedes-Benz’s broader sustainable business strategy known as Ambition2039. By 2030, the automotive giant aims to cover more than 70% of its energy demand in production with renewable energies.
Andreas Brand, CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Manufacturing, underscored the strategic significance of this initiative, stating, “The installation of the Photovoltaic solar panels at our manufacturing plant is a key pillar of our energy strategy and will contribute towards the East London plant’s daily maximum demand requirement of 12MW in times of peak demand.”
He further emphasized the additional R100 million investment into the second phase of the Photovoltaic solar energy project, highlighting its acceleration of carbon-neutral manufacturing ambitions and corporate citizenship mandate.
Brand expressed the company’s dedication to sustainability, stating, “As a company, we are working strategically towards delivering on our sustainability commitments, and feed-in agreements are required to utilize the new capacity from 2024 onwards. It remains our collective responsibility to safeguard the environment for future generations. To this effect, we call on all stakeholders to respond swiftly and to deliberately act towards helping to curb the exacerbating electricity situation in South Africa. Every action counts.”
The investment in PV solar panels not only demonstrates MBSA’s commitment to environmental sustainability but also responds to the government’s call to reduce industrial electricity consumption on a strained electrical grid. Additionally, the PV installation offers a cost-effective energy solution and serves as a renewable energy source.
The first phase of the project, involving the installation of 3,692 PV solar panels, was completed in 2022, providing 2MWp (megawatt peak). The upcoming phase will cover an additional five rooftops of the East London Plant with 22,847 solar panels, expanding the manufacturing plant’s footprint by a further 12.6MWp (megawatt peak). The combined total of approximately 26,539 solar panels will equate to 14.6MWpeak, aligned with the East London Plant’s maximum demand during any production day.
The project is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2024 in partnership with a local supplier. Once completed, the PV system is anticipated to contribute around 20% of the East London Plant’s annual MWh (megawatt-hour) consumption, marking a significant stride towards sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturing practices.
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