Ford Motor Company
Solar
13.5 MW
To comply with global sustainability requirements, Ford South Africa launched Project Blue Oval to become 100% carbon neutral by 2035 through clean, green energy.
A sustainable green energy journey
The pioneering 13.5 MW solar carport project was funded through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement meaning the installation, insurance, operations and maintenance of the system are all taken care of by SolarAfrica while Ford pays only for the solar power used.
The system was installed at Ford’s assembly plant based in Silverton.
As a milestone project with many industry firsts, the design and installation of the system contained several customised elements. These were tailored to suit Ford’s specific safety and operational requirements.
The cantilever solar carport structure was custom-built to integrate with their parking lot without hampering daily activities. The panels are both North and East/West facing, ensuring maximum exposure to sunlight throughout the day.
We used SolarEdge’s SafeDC inverter that has a built-in feature to reduce voltage to touch-safe levels when AC power is off. This was also the biggest installation of this kind for SolarEdge.
Unlike the usual Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) application, the scale of this project needed a complex Embedded Generation application. It was the first of this kind successfully done in Tshwane.
Replacing utility power with clean, affordable solar during the day.
Solution benefits
Long-term cost savings
The assembly plant enjoys around 15% cost savings on their electricity bill every year.
More solar, less grid power
The system displaces 35% of the plant’s electricity consumption by using cleaner, cheaper solar power.
Fast-tracking green goals
Thanks to the size of the system, the assembly plant greatly contributes to Ford meeting its net-zero targets.
No maintenance or cleaning costs
The all-inclusive PPA leaves the maintenance, monitoring and operations of the system in SolarAfrica’s hands.
Tonnes of CO2 saved
More solar energy means Ford can reach their net-zero goals quickly and sustainably while boosting their green credentials.
Solar panels
As one of the largest solar carports in the Southern Hemisphere, the Ford installation serves as a milestone project for all involved.
Parking bays
The bespoke carport structure is purpose built to protect the fleet of cars while harnessing the power of the sun during the day.
Inverters
Custom inverters across the installation ensures that the expansive system can operate efficiently and safely.
“We partnered with SolarAfrica, without investing anything upfront, to put in the solar and get a reduction in our energy usage.”
Rhys Davies | Site Transformation Manager, Ford South Africa
“We partnered with SolarAfrica, without investing anything upfront, to put in the solar and get a reduction in our energy usage.”
Rhys Davies
Site Transformation Manager, Ford South Africa
