Brand Engineering SA (Pty) Ltd is diversifying and expanding its role in the electrical engineering industry.  It stands at the doorway to a new era in renewable energy generation in South Africa, and has been awarded a total of 14 projects in the implementation of solar and wind energy.

Established over 40 years ago, Brand Engineering, together with its two Empowerment Companies, Besamandla (Western Cape) and Besamandla (Eastern Cape), is a leading electrical contractor in Southern Africa and throughout the African continent.

It started its venture into the renewable energy sector in April 2010 when the Department of Energy  issued its first Request for Proposal for new generation capacity under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme. 

“The REIPPP is motivated by the need to produce renewable energy in South Africa to ease the country’s chronic power deficit.  Furthermore, renewable energy is required to address climate change, and shift the country’s energy supply from its mainstay, coal, to clean, green sources to contribute to gas emission reductions,” says Herman Kriel, Group Managing Director, Brand Engineering SA (Pty) Ltd.     

While initially there were concerns as to the cost of renewable energy, Kriel explains that costs are in fact decreasing.  "The cost of renewable energy is steadily falling.  In the case of solar and wind energy, we expect parity between coal-fired energy and renewable energy by the third round of the REIPPP.  A key factor contributing to this will be large scale deployment of renewable energy technology.”

The RFP was aligned with Government’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010, which provides for the procurement of 3725 MW of renewable energy from IPPs by 2016.  “3200 MW of this capacity is to be taken up by solar and wind and it is these areas on which Brand Engineering is focusing,” explains Kriel.  

PV solar energy

Brand Engineering was initially awarded five engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts to carry out electrical and automation installations for photovoltaic (PV) solar energy projects, as well as three separate grid connection projects.  These projects, won by IPPs in the first round of the DoE’s REIPPP, are situated in the Northern Cape and North West Province.  The Northern Cape and surrounding areas are characterised by intense solar radiation, and the availability of land, of water, and the proximity to transmission lines and sub stations make it ideal. 

The names and locations of the five projects are:
• 6.8 MW plant at Rustmo 1 in Rustenburg in North West Province
• 10 MW plant at Konkoonsies in Pofadder in the Northern Cape
• 10 MW plant at Aries in Kenhardt in the Northern Cape
• 22 MW plant at Herbert in Douglas in the Northern Cape
• 11 MW plant at Greefspan in Douglas in the Northern Cape

The company is working as an electrical subcontractor to the IPPs to carry out the supply, installation and commissioning of the AC, DC, MV and communications systems for solar farm collector systems as well as HV sub-stations and grid connectivity which includes overhead lines, for the PV projects.  Procurement is well underway, and implementation has started. 

“Quality control is integral to the entire procedure and Brand Engineering continuously verifies installation standards and regulations.  We also visited Germany and France to gain first hand experience in renewable solar power,” comments Kriel.

Preferred bidders for the second round of the REIPPP were announced in May 2012.  In this round Brand Engineering was awarded another two PV contracts at Aurora and Vredendal solar plants in the Western Cape where construction has commenced.  And it is in the second round that the company was also appointed to carry out three EPC wind power projects in the Eastern Cape, further diversifying the skills and services it offers.         

Wind power

“The wind farms in the Eastern Cape for which we have been appointed will comprise numerous vast wind turbines which will be connected to the grid and electric power transmission network,” states Kriel.  “Each turbine is 112 metres in height and one blade alone is 45 metres in length.

“The turbines convert kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy, providing plentiful, renewable energy.  Wind power has the benefit of generating energy 24 hours per day, which helps overcome intermittency challenges and improves security of supply.”

The three wind projects are:
• 62 MW Grassridge wind farm north-east of Port Elizabeth
• 25 MW Waainek wind farm west of Grahamstown
• 22 MW Chaba Wind Farm in the Great Kei municipality

Brand Engineering has commenced work at Grassridge and the project is expected to be commissioned at the end of 2014.  The other wind projects will start next year and are scheduled for completion in 2015.

Socio-economic development

Essential to the development of all renewable energy in South Africa is socio-economic and environmentally sustainable growth, including the creation of new industries and much needed jobs.  Local content and local manufacturing are also vital.  These must all comply with stringent stipulations.

“Integral to the projects Brand Engineering undertakes is a philosophy of empowerment, local participation and transfer of skills,” says Kriel.  “We are contributing extensively to development in the areas in which the renewable energy contracts are being conducted.  We totally support local community upliftment, and we are training and employing previously disadvantaged, unemployed people for the various tasks being undertaken.”  

Going forward Government’s commitment to the liberalisation of the electricity supply industry is further reflected in the DoE’s mandate that IPPs contribute 43% of new generation capacity by 2030.  Brand Engineering will continue to support this mandate. 

Solar roof top

Another initiative that the company is undertaking to further strengthen its role in the transition to the renewable energy industry in South Africa is that of solar roof top development. 

“Solar roof tops have tremendous long-term potential, and it is expected that this concept will make huge inroads into the market in the next ten to twenty years,” states Kriel.  “As is the case with renewable energy IPP projects, this leading edge roof top initiative can contribute dramatically to energy savings and green energy generation in South Africa.”

The concept is the same as that of the PV solar energy projects, but the panels will be located on roof tops in highly populated industrial, commercial and business locations.  Brand Engineering has completed the first solar roof top at Black River Park in Observatory in Cape Town, which is expected to be the biggest roof top development in Southern Africa, and is in the process of concluding contracts for various other rooftop developments.  

Brand Engineering is totally committed to renewable energy in South Africa.  It is proud to have diversified and expanded, and to be able to contribute significantly to the wide variety of renewable energy initiatives helping to ensure a bright new sustainable energy future for the country.