A water infrastructure development programme in Limpopo, the Olifants Management Model Programme, has commissioned an off-grid solar and battery storage system to power water pumps for mines and underserved communities.

Solar and battery solutions funding company Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS) has been selected as the preferred contractor by the Lebalelo Water User Association.

The programme is a public-private collaboration between government, mining companies and industrial users. It will construct pipelines (200 km for bulk raw water and 675 km for potable water supply) as well as pump stations, reservoirs and water treatment works.

SPS will provide power to three pump stations – each with two 3,5 MW pumps – using 23 MWp solar capacity, to be constructed over the next 10 years, and 13,3 MWh of battery energy storage systems. The pump stations will be completely off-grid with all operational and auxiliary power supplied through the SPS renewable solution.

The pump stations will be placed along a new pipeline transporting water from the Flag Boshielo Dam to reservoirs across the northern limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex. From this point, 40% of the water will be delivered to mines and 60% will be treated at plants in Mokopane and Sekuruwe to provide potable water to 140 000 community members.

According to SPS, this will be one of the largest off-grid solar initiatives in South Africa to date and it will save over 13 million kg of carbon emissions annually by eliminating the need for diesel generators.

“We are leveraging our renewable energy expertise to make a tangible difference in communities that need it most. By supplying a renewable energy solution that will pump bulk raw water into areas currently lacking access, we are not only supporting the mining sector but fundamentally improving quality of life for thousands of people,” said Paul Rosenbrock, Business Developer at SPS.