Standard Bank Finances Mpumalanga’s First Water-Based Solar Plant At Radley Landgoed

Radley Landgoed, a family-owned farm near Malelane in Mpumalanga, has inaugurated a groundbreaking water-based solar plant, marking a significant advancement in South Africa’s agricultural energy sector. The innovative project features 80% of its solar panels installed on one of the estate’s largest irrigation dams, making it the largest agricultural solar initiative in Mpumalanga and potentially the first of its kind in South Africa.

Financed in partnership with Standard Bank’s Business and Commercial Banking (BCB) division, the solar plant has a generation capacity of up to 1.8GWh. It can fully power the estate’s homesteads, support buildings, and staff quarters, providing a crucial off-grid solution. The project is connected through a seven-kilometre network of custom-built pylons.

Standard Bank’s Head of Business Banking Client Coverage for Mpumalanga, Yaseen Guman, reported that the plant, completed within a year, will amortize its costs over ten years and has a projected operational lifespan of 30 years. Immediate savings have been realized since the plant became operational, with expected increases as energy costs rise.

Mr. Renald Radley, who manages the farm with his brothers, cited loadshedding as a primary reason for transitioning to solar power. The move aims to secure the farm’s 1,900 hectares of land, which includes diverse crops and livestock, against the disruptions caused by power outages.

The placement of solar panels on the irrigation dam offers several benefits: preserving productive land, maintaining optimal irrigation levels, and providing cooling for the panels. The design also facilitates easy maintenance with walkways between the rows of panels.

Standard Bank’s BCB division views the project as a milestone in financing sustainable energy solutions, following their recent involvement in a hydro-electric plant in the Eastern Cape. The solar installation may also provide marketing advantages, such as potential carbon credits for green energy use, benefiting local agricultural production.

Yaseen Guman emphasized, “The Radley Landgoed project reflects our commitment to investing in partnerships that drive growth, financial inclusivity, and supply chain efficiency while addressing energy grid challenges.”