Telkom has added 1 MWp grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) at its head office in Centurion, bringing total installed PV capacity to 4,2 MWp.

The installations will support the direct current power requirements of its telecommunications equipment and comply with the City of Tshwane's Small Scale Embedded Generation requirements, including safety features that prevent feeding electricity back into the grid during loadshedding.

“Our objective is to deploy green energy solutions to support an always-on network, thereby reducing dependence on high-cost, non-renewable energy solutions,” said Koenehelo Thejane, Executive: Capital Projects at Gyro, a Telkom subsidiary.

Telkom is aiming to reach carbon neutrality by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2040.

Installations at Telkom’s Centurion headquarters and Bellville, Western Cape, office have 2 000 PV panels – each rated at 540 W and strategically placed on rooftops and ground-level parking areas. These installations will primarily support the direct current power requirements of Telkom’s telecommunications equipment, reducing reliance on diesel generators during power outages.

Telkom is already reporting the benefits of its solar investment. The grid-tied solar installations contribute to Scope 1 and 2 carbon emission reductions, aligning with the company's annual 4.2% science-based targets emission reduction goal.

In terms of its multi-year plan, Telkom is set to deploy 3 MWp of solar PV capacity and battery storage at over 1 000 electronic telecommunication exchanges across South Africa. The solar PV projects are a key component of its energy strategy focusing on network energy and operational resilience as well as environmental, social and governance goals.