Blue Energy Africa Installs Hybrid Solar System For Naboom Plastic In South Africa

Blue Energy Africa, a developer of clean energy solutions, has set up a 435 kW hybrid solar and battery storage system for Naboom Plastic, a producer of planting bags in Mookgophong, Limpopo. This system enhances energy security and operational resilience, cutting their grid electricity usage by 80% to 90%.

Thanks to this system, Naboom Plastic has started to clear a 60-ton production backlog caused by loadshedding, significantly benefiting its 64 employees and their families.

Loadshedding had severely affected Naboom Plastic in recent years, limiting staff working hours and causing production waste, explains co-founder Koos Lancaster. “Loadshedding cut our production time down to 14 hours. We had to rework staff shifts around outages, with some starting as early as 3:00 AM. It hit us hard,” he says.

“We encountered energy supply problems during loadshedding along with extra disruptions from the local municipality. The new hybrid solar system has been crucial in reducing our production backlog. We can now complete orders more quickly, positively impacting our finances.”

The system installed at Naboom Plastic includes an 858 kWh battery energy storage capacity and produces 750,000 kWh annually.

Blue Energy Africa CEO Marcel Steinberg notes, “Our project at Naboom Plastic showcases how resilient renewable energy systems can foster sustainability and economic growth in communities.”

The project was funded by Gaia Fund Managers’ Renewables Real Estate Investment Trust, an infrastructure asset class specialist.

Gaia CIO and director Dr. Hendrik Snyman adds, “This project illustrates that investors can achieve profits with purpose, positively affecting both the environment and people’s lives.”