The VUKA Group, organiser of the annual Enlit Africa conference, has announced the launch of the inaugural C&I Solar + Storage Summit. The event will be held at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, from November 19-20.

Aimed at the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector, the event will gather over 250 delegates, including 150 pre-qualified buyers, alongside 60 speakers.

Day one of the summit will feature a series of project showcases including the South Deep Khanyisa solar plant, University of Cape Town's Pearce solar power station, Harmony Gold’s 30 MW Welkom solar photovoltaic (PV) park and Ford South Africa’s solar PV carport grid-tied system. The day will include a finance workshop focused on exploring investment options for C&I solar and storage projects.

Day two will include a session on navigating regulatory requirements, followed by a series of roundtable discussions on technology, implementation and safety. The summit will also host a masterclass workshop offering guidance on the business case, regulations and financing for solar projects along with insights on supplier selection and project operations.

“The focus on project owners will ensure we are addressing fundamental questions around planning, building and financing self-generation options for commercial and industrial concerns,” says Marcel du Toit, Commercial Lead for VUKA Group’s Power and Energy Portfolio. “Our objective is to close the knowledge gap by facilitating dialogue between those who have already undertaken self-generation projects and those looking to do so.”