- Facility targets 150 MW annual capacity as production ramps up with demand.
- All women team supports skills development in local clean energy manufacturing.
Ener G Africa has commissioned a R135m solar panel assembly facility in Paarl, strengthening South Africa’s domestic manufacturing base for renewable energy technologies. The plant is currently operating on a single shift with around 30 employees and is in a production ramp up phase, with output set to scale in line with market demand.
CEO André Moolman said the company’s immediate focus is to increase utilisation of the production line, with a plan to expand from one shift to two and eventually three shifts as the market develops. The facility has a nameplate capacity of up to 150 MW a year under full three shift operation, with the goal of reaching this level over time.
The plant currently assembles 550 W monocrystalline PERC modules, while retaining the flexibility to produce smaller formats and higher wattage panels exceeding 600 W using bifacial configurations. The production line can also support more advanced TOPCon cell technology with minor machinery adjustments, positioning the facility to adapt to evolving market requirements.
Ener G Africa designs its panels in house and sources specialised components internationally, including crystalline silicon cells, solar glass, aluminium frames and encapsulation materials. These components are assembled locally under controlled processes aligned with international standards, with certification from TUV NORD. The company provides a 12 year product warranty and a 25 year performance warranty.
Moolman noted that none of the upstream components are currently manufactured in South Africa, reflecting global industry economics rather than a lack of local capability. He added that scaling local assembly could create conditions for upstream suppliers to emerge over time, similar to the development of the automotive manufacturing value chain.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
