IMPOWER, a leading innovator in the solar energy sector, proudly celebrated its tenth anniversary at a gala dinner in Cape Town this weekend. Over the past decade, IMPOWER has been at the forefront of the solar and battery storage revolution, consistently delivering cutting-edge solutions and driving the transition to renewable energy.
Driven by a genuine passion to electrify and empower South Africa, IMPOWER has made great strides since their journey began in 2014. The group’s rise to prominence coincides with a burgeoning era for solar energy in SA over the past few years.
As one of the leading businesses in the sector, their efforts have been instrumental to the progress South Africa has made towards a just energy transition, and the end of load shedding.
“Our calling is to bring a solution to the crisis. Every day we are humbled and inspired by the value we’re bringing through our work,” says IMPOWER CEO Jay Naidoo.
“Our mission is to end the suffering resulting from a lack of energy in South Africa. With our growing, rapidly urbanising populations, SA faces a massive energy crisis. We could do so unsustainably, with more dirty coal, but only at the cost of greater environmental devastation. Rather, let’s act swiftly to provide clean, renewable energy in response,” he urges.
From its humble beginnings, IMPOWER has grown into a powerhouse in the solar industry, known for its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
The company’s journey has been marked by numerous milestones, including the development of pioneering solar technologies, successful implementation of large-scale solar and battery projects, and a steadfast dedication to reducing carbon footprints worldwide.
The company has an impressive track record with an extensive portfolio of approx. 150 tailored solar and battery solutions, mainly for the Commercial and Industrial sectors, with installations powering mines, farms, shopping centres, business parks, schools, health facilities, and much more.
In terms of the numbers, the past ten years have included:
- 150 000 solar panels installed on property that covers 300 000 square meters
- 2000km of cables installed
- Jobs created for 40 people
- The company worked on 1400 sites all across the country
- The construction of 40MW of solar PV plans and 20MW/h of batteries
- A cash boost of R300m for the local economy
- Back up power for 30 educational institutions that helped 20 000 learners continue with their learning
- Back up power to wine farms, that helped in the production of 300 000 cases of wine
One of their flagship projects is the PV installation at the prestigious Sandton City Mall, situated right next to the JSE in Sandton – the financial and corporate core of SA.
More recently the company has made waves in the residential-estate sector following the successful launch of the Coral Beach Estate PV solar and battery hybrid system – the first of its kind in SA – with innovative sunlight axis-tracking technology, to make the most of the solar radiation within the estate’s panel array’s surface area, powering 180 homes.
“Our passion and sense of purpose are central to everything we do at IMPOWER,” he explains. “IMPOWER’s core values – excellence, integrity, purpose, commitment, and being teachable – inform each person’s work, be they the CEO of the company or an electrician on the ground.”
“At IMPOWER, we do things differently,” Naidoo asserts.
“We design, procure, install, maintain and operate bespoke, one-of-a-kind solutions that solve specific energy problems for our clients, in a way that makes sense for their business and location.”
Naidoo articulates IMPOWER’s participatory, collaborative approach to achieving energy security:
“We make sure that people – not just our people – are equipped to deal with the energy crisis. To this end, we invest in communities and involve all stakeholders in important decisions. We also provide support to various NGOs and NPOs around the country.”
“Our people are our greatest asset,” he elaborates on IMPOWER’s ethos. “Internally, we’re hyper-focused on empowering each other through leadership, training, and guidance.”
Looking ahead, the group anticipate a period of heightened activity in SA’s solar energy space.
“BESS (battery energy storage systems) are becoming increasingly important and will form a part of all our future projects,” he notes.
For close to a decade IMPOWER has demonstrated a resolute commitment to bringing sustainable energy solar solutions to the people of SA and beyond.
“We’re in it for the long haul, and we’re in it together. Our mission is clear: to make sustainable power accessible across the continent. Electrification and energy security are a cornerstone for overall economic prosperity.
“We’re proud that our work results in cascading knock-on benefits to our communities. and that each project we’ve built has had an enormous impact, benefiting the people who live there in a variety of ways.”
IMPOWER celebrated their tenth anniversary on Saturday 3 August 2024 at a gala dinner in Cape Town.
