The Dolphin Coast Landfill Management (DCLM) 648 kWp solar plant, operated by utility and environmental services provider Veolia, in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, constructed by South African solar engineering, procurement and construction management company Rhino Energy Solutions, is a first for the company.

Moreover, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy Minister Narend Singh publicly described the solar installation at DCLM as the continent’s first landfill-based solar plant during its launch.

The solar plant, commissioned in May this year, is situated on a hazardous waste facility that handles complex industrial waste streams, liquid waste and general refuse.

“Besides the caustic landfill gasses, its close proximity to the ocean and the regions’ intense humidity added to the corrosive environment in which the plant was constructed,” says Rhino Energy Solutions CEO Rogan Davies.

These issues were addressed through a multifaceted approach, including the construction of a brick-and-mortar positive pressure inverter room to prevent corrosion from affecting the “vulnerable parts” of the system.

“Simply put, we are pushing air out of the inverter room to prevent corrosion from forming, and [avert] the potential ingress of hazardous particulate matter, thereby reducing the risk of damage,” he adds.

The team also used wear-resistant 3CR12 grade steel in the ground mounts for the Tier 1 PV panels and wear-resistant aluminium frames while running subterraneous cables to further prevent corrosive impact.

Power Offsets

The power generated at the plant is being used to offset the DCLM’s electricity consumption, and once Rhino Energy Solutions has established a clear proof of concept, opportunities for expansion will be evaluated.

DCLM has focused initially on establishing a viable business case, followed by achieving a solid return on investment and then pursuing further expansion.

Davies stresses that DCLM has clear plans moving forward, based on the plant’s success, including adding batteries to increase capacity to meet more of the landfill’s 24-hour energy requirements and increasing the plant’s capacity to about 40 MW, which it will wheel to KwaDukuza’s power grid.

“This strategic approach was evident at the opening ceremony, which was attended by Singh, as well as Mayor Sduduzo Gumede.”

The installed 648 kWp plant offsets about 778 t/y of CO2, which is equivalent to removing about 170 passenger vehicles from the road or planting about 12 800 tree seedlings over a decade, Davies adds.

Rhino Records

Rhino Energy has completed over 160 projects across South Africa totalling 87 MWp of solar and more than 22 MWh of battery storage.

“We employ 120 permanent staff nationwide and hire between 200 and 300 contractors as needed,” states Davies, adding that the company prioritises local labour and capabilities wherever possible and coordinates with local community liaison officers to source appropriate personnel.

While electrical work requires skilled staff, many tasks can be performed by unskilled local labour with the appropriate supervision and training.

Rhino Energy has gone further: after completing several projects – including an 8 MWp system at Gateway Shopping Centre and multiple installations at Umhlanga Ridge – it has added two permanent operations and maintenance teams to maintain its plants, consequently reducing travel costs and allowing for local upskilling.

“We are quickly approaching our 100 MW built milestone, which is a big achievement for us, but we have ambitions to build another 150 MW’s worth of solar plants for our clients over the next four or five years,” concludes Davies.