International renewable energy development company GreenYellow is expanding its presence into South Africa, and provides not only proven renewable energy systems, but also technical advice and financing to catalyse the adoption of these energy sources by commercial and industrial companies, says GreenYellow South Africa sales director Michael Ilias.

The company has signed an energy efficiency contract for five stores for a large retailer, and is working on a solar power purchase agreement across multiple buildings for another large retailer.

GreenYellow provides the financing and manages the development and operation of the solar plants, with the clients paying only for the power that they consume.

“We understand that the pandemic has negatively affected companies’ abilities to adopt renewable energy models to offset costs. This is why we aim to build and own the assets, or lease to purchase, and thereby allow companies to deploy renewable energy to reduce their power costs without affecting their debt levels or balance sheets” he says.

“Most companies prefer to spend their capital on machinery or materials in line with their business model, rather than focusing on or investing money into a solar asset which they are unfamiliar with.

“GreenYellow not only builds solar power plants, but energy efficiency programs too. The process starts with an energy audit and an energy efficiency assessment before finding the most suitable solution – a solar power plant, or an energy-efficiency agreement – by ensuring the designs are adapted to the clients operational requirements and to help companies improve their efficiency by reducing the costs throughout their operations.”

“Our development model is all about being clientcentric. This provides the best outcome for our clients’ and for us because they reduce their power use and we are able to provide sustainable power throughout the lifecycle of the asset,” says Ilias.

GreenYellow develops business-to-business solutions in the emerging field of the energy transition, to help its customers reduce their energy costs and decarbonise their activities. With over 13 years of combined local and international technical experience, GreenYellow has developed more than 250 decentralised photovoltaic projects generating more than 260 MW, and operates and maintains over 2 500 energy efficiency contracts globally.

GreenYellow, headquartered in Paris, is present in 17 countries worldwide, including Burkina Faso, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia in Africa. Recently, GreenYellow, through its shareholders, raised another €150-million to step up growth and development in all of its markets across the globe. This includes a strong focus on growing its presence in the South African market.

The services it offers, beyond energy audits, energy efficiency development and power-purchase solutions, include solar photovoltaic development for outright purchase, energy management through company IP software and hardware integration, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, energy retail models, energy storage for commercial and industrial clients and hybrid designs for energy arbitrage, which include kVA-scale load shifting or peak shaving.

By coupling a solar power plant with an energy storage system, it can provide power for load shifting or peak shaving, as well as a complete off-grid solution. It has recently installed an energy storage system at the Nouakchott airport, in Mauritania.

“Immediate benefits realised by clients include generating value from their real estate, such as rooftops and carports, to produce low-cost sustainable energy. They reduce their energy bill from day one as a result of our energy efficiency programme, and the performance of the solution is guaranteed,” says Ilias.

Further, clients do not have to make any capital investment for the solar installation or for modernised lighting, cooling and heating equipment. They simultaneously decarbonise their businesses by supplying green energy to their sites and buildings. Companies can also use the service to replace and renovate their energy installations, as well as address regulatory changes that lead to possible carbon costs.

“We are able to install power plants in parking lots, in retention basins, on shopping malls, on land or even on bodies of water; we have installed more than 1.3-million square metres of photovoltaic panels in more than over 250 plants worldwide. Our 2 500 energy efficiency contracts have generated and saved our clients over €77-million in energy costs.“

By providing finance for the solar installation, we can scale up easier access to renewable energy solutions for customers, because they do not need to take risks or mobilise capital but only pay for the power they consume, he says.

“Our solar solutions and energy efficiency offers are suitable for small and large privately owned businesses, listed enterprises and conglomerates; all those who wish to save on energy costs and decarbonise their processes.”

Retail, food and nonfood players are well positioned to capitalise on a solar energy solution or an energy efficiency programme which will allow these businesses to reduce their energy bill by up to 40%.