NCP Chlorchem And Terra Firma Launch 27 MWp Solar Project At Key Water Facility In South Africa

NCP Chlorchem, one of South Africa’s leading producers of chlorine and related chemicals used to treat the country’s drinking water, has partnered with Terra Firma, a prominent developer of commercial and industrial solar and battery-storage solutions, to implement a 27 MWp multi-phase solar programme at NCP’s main production site. This project is among the largest standalone behind-the-meter industrial solar installations in South Africa. The facility is classified as a National Key Point, reflecting its strategic importance in providing safe and clean water to millions of people across the country.

The solar programme is expected to supply a substantial portion of the site’s electricity demand. Several phases of the project have already been completed, additional capacity is scheduled to come online in early 2026, and the full programme is planned for completion by the end of 2026. The energy-intensive nature of NCP’s operations makes long-term energy planning and emissions reduction an important part of the company’s sustainability strategy. The partnership with Terra Firma began in 2023 with a 1.1 MWp pilot project, which was implemented under earlier regulatory caps that limited project size.

Following the pilot’s success, NCP expanded the programme with a second phase of around 10 MWp, incorporating rooftop, carport, and ground-mounted systems. This phase is now in the final stages of commissioning. A further 17.5 MWp is under construction, which will bring the total installed capacity to 27 MWp. The project comes at a time when South African industries face rising energy costs, an unstable electricity grid, and increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions. Onsite renewable energy solutions are becoming an essential component of operational resilience and cost management for industrial facilities.

According to Schalk Venter, managing director of NCP, the company’s focus on sustainability is central to its operations, and the solar programme with Terra Firma helps reduce carbon emissions while providing more predictable energy costs. Grant Berndsen, CEO of Terra Firma, noted that large industrial energy users in South Africa are increasingly adopting onsite renewable systems to meet both cost and sustainability objectives. He added that integrating a large-scale solar system into a live chemical production facility requires careful planning, coordination, and strict adherence to safety standards, demonstrating that renewable energy can be effectively implemented in complex and high-stakes industrial environments.