Energy-intensive businesses are under pressure to do more with every unit of electricity they consume. For mining, manufacturing and production businesses, the answer increasingly lies in building a more holistic energy mix: combining utility power with renewable energy solutions such as electricity wheeling, on-site solar and battery storage.
At Electra Mining Africa 2026, SolarAfrica will showcase how its Electricity 2.0 ecosystem gives commercial and industrial (C&I) businesses greater choice over how they buy and use electricity, helping them cut costs and reduce the carbon intensity of their operations.
Electra Mining Africa 2026 takes place from 7-11 September 2026 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec. While mining may be in the name, the challenges being tackled at the event extend well beyond the mine – with manufacturers, producers and other energy-intensive businesses facing many of the same pressures: excessive electricity bills, tariff increases, limited space for on-site solar and growing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint.
Electricity 2.0 gives businesses access to a combination of virtual power solutions including wheeling, which can work alongside on-site solar, battery storage and existing utility supply to address these challenges.
The aim is simple: help businesses access more renewable energy, lower their electricity costs and take greater control of their energy mix. For large energy users, this opens up renewable energy at a scale that can be difficult to achieve through on-site generation alone.
Electricity wheeling allows a business to buy renewable electricity generated at an off-site facility and have that power transported through the national or municipal electricity grid to its operations.
For mines and manufacturers, this means access to utility-scale renewable energy without having to find enough space to generate all that electricity on site.
SolarAfrica’s wheeling customers can access electricity at tariffs up to 50% cheaper than Eskom, with clear and predictable tariff escalations to support longer-term budgeting, while Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) can also be structured around the needs of the business.
For operations with multiple facilities, wheeling can provide renewable electricity across different sites through a single energy strategy.
The scale of electricity required by a mine, manufacturing plant or production facility can make relying exclusively on on-site renewable generation impractical. Wheeling gives these businesses access to renewable energy generated elsewhere, allowing them to increase renewable energy penetration without being constrained by available roof or land space.
It can also complement on-site generation. By combining wheeling and on-site solar, businesses can replace a greater portion of carbon-intensive electricity with verifiable renewable power and report on their carbon reduction through Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
| Benefit | What it means for your business |
|---|---|
|
Lower electricity costs |
Wheeled electricity can be up to 50% cheaper than Eskom tariffs |
|
Greater tariff predictability |
Clear tariff escalations make longer-term energy budgeting easier |
|
No space constraints |
Renewable electricity is generated off site, so access is not limited by available rooftop or ground space |
|
Flexible agreements |
Short and long-term VPPAs to align with your business’ needs |
|
Lower carbon footprint |
Replace more carbon-heavy grid electricity with renewable energy |
|
Scalable renewable energy |
Increase renewable energy procurement as your business and energy requirements grow |
For many mining, manufacturing and production businesses, the most comprehensive energy strategy typically combines virtual and on-site solutions.
SolarAfrica’s on-site solar systems are fully financed, with maintenance, monitoring, insurance and operations included. Businesses pay for the solar electricity they use, with no upfront CAPEX required.
Battery storage can then be paired with solar to store renewable energy for use during more expensive peak periods, helping businesses get more value from the electricity they generate on site and prevent costly peak-demand spikes.
In this context, battery storage is about smarter energy management and savings. The right mix will depend on your specific energy, financial and environmental goals
There is no single “best” energy configuration for every mine, factory or production facility. The right approach depends on how and when your business consumes electricity, its available space and the amount of renewable energy it wants to introduce into its energy mix.
| Solution | Best suited to |
|---|---|
|
Electricity wheeling |
Large energy users looking for renewable electricity at scale, predictable tariffs and reduced dependence on utility power |
|
On-site solar |
Businesses with suitable roof or ground space looking to generate lower-cost renewable electricity at their premises |
|
Solar & battery |
Businesses looking to store renewable energy for use during expensive peak periods and reduce peak-demand costs |
|
Wheeling & on-site solar |
Energy-intensive operations seeking higher renewable energy penetration and lower carbon intensity |
If you are responsible for the energy strategy of a mine, manufacturing plant, production facility or other energy-intensive operation, talk to our team who will be on-site at Electra Mining, and discover what Electricity 2.0 might do for your business.
