The
heavy downpours in Johannesburg were unable to dampen the solar mood during the
opening day of the Power & Electricity World Africa 2014 exhibition in South
Africa, where it was positivity that reigned instead.
pv
magazine can confirm that more
than 100 solar companies have
exhibited at the show on the first day this year, representing a 20% increase on
last year, according to the show organizers.
The
presence of European and Chinese companies that had made the trip to
Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre was obvious, with a particular
proliferation of top inverter and panel manufacturers dotted about the exhibition
floor.
Many
of the exhibitors whom pv
magazine spoke to reported
increased market activity from South Africa, with JA Solar, Trina Solar, Yingli,
Solarworld and Canadian Solar all revealing buoyant local interest. Equally,
SMA, ABB, Fronius, Kaco, Ingeteam and Bonfiglioli have so far enjoyed a brisk
opening to the exhibition, with plenty of interest shown in their products.
Each
company pv
magazine spoke with is expecting
growing interest in both the utility
scale solar sector and the self-consumption sector, driven by rooftop and
residential applications. "We see a growing demand for energy management
applications," said Silvia Blumenschein, head of sale EMEA at German-based Solar
Datensysteme, a company that is exhibiting for the first time in
Johannesburg.
There
is also a high presence of foreign equipment manufacturers at the exhibition,
such as Schmid, Meyer Burger and Mondragon. These companies are banking on the
widening of domestic content rulings in the bidding process for utility scale
projects, and also the continued high-profile that solar currently enjoys in
South Africa, particularly as the sector continues to create much-needed local
employment.
Solar in South
Africa is currently being driven by a growing energy demand, rising electricity
rates, declining solar equipment costs and a political push for more renewable
energy. Chief hurdles include bureaucratic red-tape and the powerful opposition
interests of the nuclear and fossil fuel industries.
Solar,
though, has more than held its own at the show so far, with the promise of more
exciting developments to come over the next few days.
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