Busisiwe Moagi
Amid South Africa’s ongoing energy crisis, Joburg Market continues to set a high standard in the fresh produce industry. As a critical player in maintaining food security, the market has implemented several energy diversification projects to ensure operational efficiency and business continuity during load shedding and power outages.
Generation Farm Project
Launched on 17 June 2022, the Generation Farm Project is a cornerstone of Joburg Market’s energy strategy. It supports essential infrastructure, including the market, ammonia plant, and market agents’ cold rooms, all vital for preserving the freshness of produce.
With six generators providing a total capacity of 7.89MVA, this project guarantees uninterrupted operations during load shedding or power outages. The generators run efficiently at a load capacity below 70%, equating to 5.52MVA, which is the usable capacity at full load. These generators automatically activate when needed, ensuring the market’s continued efficiency and reliability. Strategically positioned, they cover the entire market’s power requirements.
Ring Feed Project
To ensure seamless operations, Joburg Market is connected to a ring feed from both the Moffat and Wemmerspan substations. This dual-source system operates like a loop, delivering power from two City Power sources. The older feed from Wemmerspan Substation, which powers nearby areas, now serves as a backup to the market, while the newer Moffat Substation feed is dedicated solely to Joburg Market. If one source fails, the other automatically takes over, ensuring a continuous power supply across the market.
Solar Energy Project
In collaboration with City Power, Joburg Market launched a solar energy project focusing on the cold store facility, the site with the highest energy consumption. Starting in October 2023 and completed in June 2024, the project installed 1,900 solar panels, each generating 1 megawatt (MW) of power. The system also includes inverters, batteries, and wiring to complete the setup.
This solar initiative aims to reduce the strain on the City Power grid and lower the market’s electricity costs. During daylight hours, the panels power part of the facility, while at night, batteries provide backup power, maintaining operations even during outages.
Through these innovative energy diversification projects, Joburg Market is not only addressing the challenges posed by the national energy crisis but also setting a new benchmark for sustainability and resilience in the fresh produce sector. These initiatives highlight Joburg Market’s commitment to operational excellence and food security, ensuring its continued role as a reliable and efficient hub for fresh produce in the region.
SOURCED FROM THE JOBURG WEBSITE.
