THE ENERGY technology and power electronics specialist, AEG Power Solutions has invested in South Africa with the construction of a premium manufacturing facility for utility-scale solar inverters and skytron combiner boxes for its world class monitoring and control solutions. The factory is based in Montague Park in Milnerton, outside of Cape Town.

It is 3,400 square meters with the capacity to produce at least 200 MW per annum. The South African company has been registered and is operating under the same name as the group’s holding; 3W Power and selling under the AEG brand.

It is estimated that there are around 1.5 billion people around the world who do not have access to electricity. Approximately one third of that number is African. Currently, around 90% of South Africa’s electricity is generated from coal-fired power plants and fewer than 40% of South African households have access to mains electricity. Throughout the year, South Africa receives more than 2,500 hours of sunlight.

In 2010, the South African government approved plans calling for the development of 18 GW of renewable energy by 2030, of which 8,400 MW are allocated for solar. AEG Power Solutions has committed to helping South Africa achieve their ambitious renewable energy aspirations through the development of a state of the art solar inverter manufacturing facility in Cape Town.

The new South African facility will bring the same range of first-rate products to the African solar market. Employees have been trained in Germany and are bringing premium technical skills back to Africa. The plant will be officially inaugurated in September 2012, but has already started manufacturing the PV.500 Inverters and 1MW TKS Solar Containers, with 13 employees and will ramp up to the PV.630 and PV.800 by the end of 2012.

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