SolarWorld Africa, together with its distribution partner African Technical Innovations supplied two grid-tied solar electricity systems to J.C. Bosman Boerdery, home of the successful vine nursery Lelienfontein Vine Growers as well as the Bosman Family Vineyards.

SolarWorld Africa, together with its distribution partner African Technical Innovations supplied two grid-tied solar electricity systems to J.C. Bosman Boerdery, home of the successful vine nursery Lelienfontein Vine Growers as well as the Bosman Family Vineyards. The Bosman Family, with a wine legacy spanning eight generations, acquired a 53 kWp solar electricity system on the roof of the wine cellar at Lelienfontein and a 35 kWp solar electricity system on the roof of the Groenfontein administrative offices.

"Sustainability is a core value at Bosman Family Vineyards and by installing solar technology to generate electricity for our operations, we are living out this value. The systems form part of a drive to become more sustainable overall and contribute to a lower carbon footprint which is important for us", says Petrus Bosman of Bosman Family Vineyards.

At present there is a strong move from South African farmers towards solar energy. Within the wine farming industry the use of solar technology makes viable business and environmental sense as cooling takes place generally when the sun shines. "Having partnered with SolarWorld on a number of projects in the agriculture and wine farming sectors, we have formed an expert team to implement these solar electricity systems with the quickest turnaround time and at the best cost for our clients", says Kobus Engelbrecht, Managing Director of African Technical Innovations, installer of the two systems.

The installation is expected to generate 147 871kWh per year. According to standards published in the 2012 Eskom Annual Report, solar electricity production at this level amounts to additional savings of 144 702 litres of water per year and it will off-set carbon emissions by 141.5 tons. "Agribusiness is starting to capitalise on the long-term advantages of investment in renewables. The obvious environmental benefits are driving some of this growth but we have found that it is the highly measurable commercial benefits that are influencing investment decisions", says Gregor Küpper, SolarWorld Africa Managing Director.