Much has been made of data centres and their impact as far as requiring vast amounts of power to stay up and running. In order to offset some of its burden on the grid, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has detailed the efforts of its first solar project in SA, located in the Northern Cape.
AWS explains that the 10 megawatt solar project (pictured above) will generate renewable energy to supply the company’s data centres in the province and ultimately contribute to South Africa’s 2030 renewable energy goals.
“Amazon is committed to working with governments and utility suppliers around the world to help bring more new renewable energy projects online, and we’re honoured to be able to work with the Department of Minerals and Energy, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), and Eskom to help deliver a new model for renewable energy generation in South Africa,” notes Nat Sahlstrom, director of AWS Energy.
“This project brings Amazon closer to achieving net-zero carbon by 2040 and powering our operations with 100% renewable energy, a commitment we’re on path to achieve five years early by 2025,” he adds.
The solar project is expected to generate up to 28 000 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable energy per year, which the company says is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of over 8 000 average South African homes.
On top of this, the project design will result in more than an estimated 25 000 tons of carbon emissions avoided annually, according to AWS, which is the equivalent of removing 5 400 cars from the road for a year.
With South Africa recently confirming its part in the COP26 climate deal to limit the country’s reliance on coal power to keep the lights on, hopefully more projects like this will keep popping up in the coming years as a viable clean energy alternative to the current setup.
This project also has the added benefit of job creation and positive impact in terms of female empowerment in the business space. This as the project is majority-owned by black women and operated by a fully South African-owned company, according to the project developer SOLA.
“Historically, black women have been critically under-represented in infrastructure, agriculture, and utility ownership,” highlights Meta Mhlarhi, co-founder and executive director at Mahlako Financial Services, an investor in the project.
“Energy projects that enable black investment are our surest way to a just transition to renewable energy,” she concludes.
[Image – Provided]
