[Camps Bay, 20 September 2023] – Camps Bay High School celebrates a momentous milestone as it breaks free from the shackles of load shedding and emerges as a beacon of energy self-sufficiency and community support. The school’s pioneering spirit has resulted in the implementation of a cutting-edge solar energy system, a move that not only frees the school from power disruptions but also creates a surplus of electricity that benefits the broader community.

Camps Bay High School Principal, Louis Mostert explains, “In 2020, Camps Bay High School took its first step towards energy resilience by installing 80 solar panels, a forward-thinking move to curtail electricity costs and uphold our commitment to responsible energy consumption. However, the increasing frequency and impact of load shedding prompted the School Governing Body to take decisive further action.”

This year, with a strategic allocation of R1.8 million from its financial reserves, the School Governing Body of Camps Bay High School spearheaded the installation of a further 120 advanced solar panels, generating an impressive 100 kilowatts of electricity. This substantial upgrade includes the integration of 2 x 50 kilowatt inverters and 2 x 40 kilowatt-hour batteries, securing the school’s operation during extended load shedding periods.  The inverter, batteries, and solar panels in the new system come with guarantees of 5, 10, and 25 years respectively, providing a secure and enduring power solution for many years to come.

Said Mostert, “With the sun now serving as our steadfast power source, we wave goodbye to the unsettling presence of load shedding. Camps Bay High School is now one of only a handful of schools in South Africa who can say that learning and school activities can carry on uninterrupted during load shedding. Our ability to ensure uninterrupted learning for our students, irrespective of external energy challenges, reaffirms our commitment to their education and well-being. We have not only empowered our school but our community as well.”

Following a rigorous tender process, NHD (Network Hardware Distribution) Solar was awarded the contract for providing the upgrading of the Solar Power System at Camps Bay High School.  NHD Solar is headed up by a Camps Bay High School parent, Dean Tait. The progressive system was installed by Cinch Energy, and the panels themselves were supplied by another Camps Bay High School parent, Simon Campbell-Young and his company, CydTechsolar.com.

Dean Tait, NHD Solar, remarked, “The infrastructure empowers Camps Bay High School to generate an average of 450 kilowatt-hours of electricity daily, resulting in a noteworthy monthly saving of R49,140 under the current Eskom tariff structure. Through harnessing this surplus power, the school actively contributes to the electricity grid, generating revenue from excess energy and illuminating neighbouring residences and businesses.”Tait continued, “Our system is seamlessly integrated with a user-friendly app, providing real-time insights into energy production, consumption, and storage. This app issues alerts and notifications for issue resolution and enables the school to optimise energy usage for maximum savings. It offers a comprehensive view of the power dynamics, including solar generation, grid utilisation, and total energy consumption. Additionally, it provides valuable insights into available stored power reserves during Eskom downtimes.”

Brian Williams, SGB Business Development Manager and project leader, emphasised, “This transformative action aligns with the school’s vision of being a catalyst for positive change beyond its campus. Our comprehensive solar initiative is an investment that transcends immediate financial benefits. By generating surplus electricity that can be shared with our community, we are fostering resilience and collaboration. Through this commitment, we are not only energising our classrooms but also exemplifying our dedication to environmental responsibility. Furthermore, with the assurance of uninterrupted power, we ensure that learning never succumbs to the disruptions of load shedding, fortifying the education journey for our students and embodying the spirit of progress for all our community.”

This system not only marks an end to Camps Bay High School’s vulnerability to load shedding but also underscores its role as a dynamic force for progress. Beyond financial savings, the school’s solar venture has unlocked a new era of energy autonomy, echoing the school’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community enrichment.