Emperors Palace tackles innovative energy saving solution
Emperors Palace and Terra Firma Solutions have embarked on a project of creating rooftop solar PV (photovoltaic) plants in South Africa.
Currently in phase 1 of construction, the plant is scheduled for completion by August 2016 and will generate enough power to provide electricity to 450 homes.
The building of the solar PV plant at Emperors Palace will be completed by Terra Firma Solutions, a leading energy engineering solution provider that first conducted a detailed study to ensure that the roof could support the weight of the solar panels and associated equipment.
As a result, the plant will be split up into smaller plants (arrays), across different roof sections.
The study also entailed an analysis of the electrical demand of the site and due to its scale, it was concluded that all the solar power produced, will be utilised by Emperors Palace directly.
According to Nigel Atherton, complex operations executive of Emperors Palace, the plant will be a grid tied solar PV system that will produce power alongside the Ekurhuleni Municipal feed.
“Emperors Palace will be able to generate a substantial quota of its own power and alleviate its burden on the national power grid significantly. To put it into perspective, the plant will generate enough power to provide electricity to 450 homes,” Atherton said.
The solar PV plant at Emperors Palace will be a 1.045 MW (megawatt) size rooftop plant.
“In reality, it will then be one of the largest if not the largest rooftop solar PV plants built to date on a hospitality and gaming site in South Africa and quite possibly the entire southern Hemisphere,” Atherton said.
“At peak production, the solar PV plant is expected to produce 15 to 20 per cent of Emperors Palace’s electricity power requirement.
“We are extremely excited about the practical implications of the new solar PV plant.
“Peermont Hotels, Casinos and Resorts has a dedicated sustainability programme to reduce the group’s energy and water consumption, decrease waste and promote recycling.
“The overall objective is to continuously reduce any potential negative impact on our natural environment, whilst maintaining and improving the overall experience for our guests,” Atherton said.
