3W Power/AEG Power Solutions, based in the Netherlands, has inaugurated is new solar inverter manufacturing facility in the country. The plant will manufacture AEG’s new Protect PV630 photovoltaic inverters. Situated in Milnerton, the facility, located across 3 400 square metres of land at AEG’s existing manufacturing plant, which produces the company’s Protect PV5000 inverter, has enough capacity to manufacture up to 200 MW of its new Protect PV630 inverters, annually. It will also make electrical distribution boxes.

The CEO of AEG Power Solution, Horst Kayser said the company will “use the facility to grow South Africa’s role in this important industry sector across the continent.” It also announced that the plant will be used as a base to enter markets across the continent.

Dipuo Peters, the energy minister of South Africa said that the plant “ties invery well with government’s policy commitment on localisation. The inauguration of this facility sends a clear message that the private sector is starting to respond to our [renewable energy] policy imperatives.”

The REIPPP specifically included local content as a prerequisite due to the lack of local manufacturing of solar components. Peters continued by saying that a “lack of local manufacturers was a major barrier to many bidders and therefore the initiative will contribute significantly in addressing this gap, as it creates an excellent example and a case study for those who may want to follow suit.”

Source: pvmagazine.com