DUYS Engineering Group has invested R5.2 million in a solar power plant as an energy source for its Richards Bay facility, sharing online that it has ‘flipped the switch’ to a more appropriate energy solution which will also reduce its carbon footprint.

“Duys prides itself in being an industry innovator with a long and continued history in developing South Africa’s infrastructure. With our country’s fragile and unstable energy source, it made sense that we prioritised a more appropriate energy solution for our Richards Bay plant,” said Henk Duys, chairperson of Duys Engineering Group said in an online post.

“We are thrilled to be ‘flipping the switch’ and moving across to solar. This investment will ultimately mean a R50 to R100 000 cash saving on our monthly running costs, and by reducing our dependence on the national grid through generating our own power, we will be credited for contributing to a more viable greener sustainable future,” he said.

Duys says it has commissioned the latest available technology – the “all-in-one” 440 kWh Lithium-Ion Battery Bank with 200 kW power single closed control system, inverter and battery, which it says was introduced to South Africa this year.

Duys has recently significantly upgraded its Richards Bay heavy engineering facility which was built primarily to service aluminium customers. With its recent upgrade it can now service the general engineering requirements locally and for export customers.

Last year, the Richards Bay factory completed the manufacture of 23 large pontoons each weighing 40 tons for an international mining concern. The nine-month project processed 1000 tons of steel and provided employment to 140 artisans, many of whom also acquired new skills as a result of the contract.

Image: Duys Engineering Group Linkedin