The challenge
KAROOFRESH has taken on yet another pioneering project.
Karoo Fresh – Solar & Storage Crowdsale Phase 1
Over the course of time Karoo farmers always had to deal with many natural and other stress factors. The harsh climate of the Karoo, the arid soil, and unreliable electricity in the region leaves little room for error. But the harsh sun, one of humanity’s most valuable, yet underutilised resources, can be applied to man’s benefit.
KAROOFRESH in a joint venture with Sun Exchange, are currently constructing a completely off-grid solar installation and have already reached Phase 2 of KAROOFRESH’s solar and energy crowdsale. Integrated battery storage means solar energy from our cells can be used 24 hours a day, maximising productivity and CO2 reduction.
This project marks a turning point for Sun Exchange members to address energy security and reliability, and in turn more predictable income.
Services Provided
The goals
"Not only will it enable us to broaden the reach of our produce throughout South Africa and beyond, but it will literally empower us to offer Solar Energy to the people."
"Sustainability is our passion. Here at KAROOFRESH sustainable farming means taking care of the land we love, the environment and our staff. We hope to set a precedent for medium, independent, non-corporate farmers to seek sustainable alternatives to farm without having to fully rely on centralised electricity. We believe and apply sustainable farming methods – Now we can apply it without the challenges of unreliable electricity sources in the region."
Water supply is vital in farming – this solar project will provide greater water storage capacity during the wettest time of the year in the Karoo, enabling the development of storage dams to increase production on the farm during the driest seasons.
Technical Details
The 332.1 kW solar plus 640 kWh storage project, which is now generating electricity, is Sun Exchange’s first fully off-grid project. This means the project operates independently of the national grid, providing continuous, reliable solar power for Karoo Fresh’s irrigation system."
“Our belief that business can be a powerful force for good is one of Cars.co.za’s core values and essential to our culture,” said Alastair MacMurray, co-founder, Cars.co.za. “We’re proud to be associated with Sun Exchange and the KarooFresh solar project as part of our vision at Cars.co.za to protect our environment and be a carbon negative business. This project gave us the ability to align with a progressive business and effectively achieve our major environmental goals for 2022."
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The conclusion
Since 2015, Sun Exchange has enabled solar power for more than 65 businesses, farms, schools, and other organisations in Southern Africa. Its solar projects have generated more than 13 gigawatt-hours of clean energy, avoiding more than 13,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. Individuals and businesses from 180 countries across the world use the Sun Exchange platform to buy and own solar cells, produce clean electricity, and earn with purpose. The Sun Exchange vision is a world where all people and organisations can harness affordable clean energy to ensure a healthy planet for future generations. Join us in making a positive impact today."
