SoloPower Systems, a photovoltaic technology company specializing in the design, manufacture and deployment of CIGS flexible thin-film solar technology, announced that Direct Group Africa, a pioneer of sustainable housing projects, has executed a letter of intent to integrate SoloPower’s innovative lightweight solar photovoltaic technology into the manufacture of up to 15,000 low income and student housing units in South Africa.
“We selected SoloPower’s technology because it is ideal for integration with our lightweight and modular housing designs,” said Johann Dreyer, chairman and CEO of Direct Group. “We believe that our innovative business model for low-cost and sustainable housing solutions will be a model to be emulated further in South Africa, the rest of Africa and other key emerging markets. Our business model relies on distributed energy solutions to enable low income communities – which are negatively impacted by weak grid access – to become self-sufficient. We look forward to working closely with SoloPower products to bring this innovative solution to our customers.”
SoloPower will supply products for factory integration – or building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) – that will be suitable for Direct Group’s lightweight roofing systems. These innovative, low-cost sustainable building solutions are designed to serve the needs of South Africa’s low income and student housing needs. Direct Group’s EEZI Thermal Modular Building System – a sophisticated composite building system utilized in flooring, walling and roofing – will be used in the development of the units. The installation process is fast and simple and is ideal for the rapid development of housing systems and communities.
“Direct Group has truly developed an innovative solution for affordable global housing,” said Rob Campbell, CEO of SoloPower Systems. “By integrating our technology with their housing designs, we are demonstrating the flexibility and versatility of our products, which can be utilized on both a stand-alone and integrated basis. Our industry-leading technology will add clean and sustainable energy to Direct Group’s model at the lowest possible cost. We will fully support the project with our local distributor partner Dumont Power.”
Dumont Power and SoloPower have concluded terms for the initial project phase for 762 kilowatts of solar PV systems. The parties expect to complete a comprehensive framework agreement during H1 2016 to cover the installation of approximately six megawatts per year of SoloPower’s systems for Direct Group’s first large-scale community project in Port Elizabeth.