According to Engineering News, global industrial company Barloworld on Friday launched a high-performance photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutiontargeted at Southern Africa’s commercial and industrial (C&I) power segment.
The Cat Thin Film PV solar energy system, available in sizes ranging from 25 kW to 5 MW, can deliver up to 4.3% more energy than conventional crystalline silicon panels. It features Cat-branded PV module technology and is manufactured by First Solar.
“This solution offers our customers the opportunity to invest in reliable, affordable, high-performance PV modules backed by multiple gigawatts of First Solar’s expertise, combined with the familiarity and trust that comes with the Cat brand,” said Barloworld Powersolar business development manager Grant Kirchmann.
The company is currently installing a 300 kW test site at sister company Barloworld Equipment’s Isando campus, which is expected to save about R500 000 a year on energy costs. “From our own experience, we’ve seen that thin film is the right technology for the C&I segment in Southern Africa. We are confident that Barloworld Power, with its extensive technical capabilities and sales and support infrastructure, is the right company to drive continued growth for thin film in the C&I segment,” First Solar Africabusiness development director John Eccles said.
