In collaboration with Coca Cola South Africa, Lapp Group Southern Africa (Lapp) has successfully engineered an innovative solution for the installation of a Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system for the new state-of-the-art Valpré bottling plant in Heidelberg, southeast of Gauteng.

In collaboration with Coca Cola South Africa, Lapp Group Southern Africa (Lapp) has successfully engineered an innovative solution for the installation of a Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system for the new state-of-the-art Valpré bottling plant in Heidelberg, southeast of Gauteng. On the 7 July 2011 Coca-Cola South Africa officially opened the new Valpré Spring Water plant.

South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) executive director, Charlotte Metcalf, said both the plant and new ‘green' bottle significantly advance the bottling industry's ‘green' strategy. "With the new Heidelberg plant, Valpré will reduce its carbon footprint, lower its water usage ratio, adopt energy efficiency lighting and production technologies…"

As a premium partner of German-based IBC Solar, who since its inception has already sold PV modules and systems that collectively could produce 1 GW of energy, Lapp is no stranger to this technology. "Our Premium Partners who worked with us to distribute environmentally-friendly PV technologies have made the greatest contribution to our success," said Udo Möhrstedt, IBC founder and chairman.

Lapp have once again proved themselves an integral partner to IBC by being instrumental in assisting Coca-Cola to achieve their goal of opening a plant which would improve on production efficiency and yet maintain their commitment to a sustainable environment and greener future.

When the consulting engineers of Coca-Cola approached the Lapp Group to provide a PV Solar energy solution for the new Valpré bottling plant their proposal was a custom fit for Coca-Cola. The usual PV solution would be used as a feed into the system with a battery backup. Because the client already had a backup system in the form of 2 x 1250kW generators, no battery system was required. Instead Lapp advised the installation of the generators to power the plant in the event of a power interruption.

The 30kW PV plant feeds into Coca-Cola's internal grid, supplementing its power requirements with solar energy and significantly reducing its reliance on the national grid. The PV plant design consists of 132 x 230w IBC grid-type solar modules and 2 x SMA 15000 TL tri power inverters with a web box for monitoring the performances of the PV plant. Provisions have been made to increase the capacity to 90kW.

The new Valpré plant is currently undergoing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDS) certification. This internationally recognized program has become the accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED green building accreditation is based on a point system and to achieve this enviable status companies need 100 points. Project engineers have to provide all energy saving measures utilized in the construction of the ‘green' building, such as double glazing, specialized roof insulation, energy efficient lighting, light sensors and solar water heating. In the case of the Valpré Plant, 8 of their 100 points were awarded for Lapp's PV installation.

With a government mandate to create infrastructure and ensure sustainable development while minimizing the impact on our environment we can be sure that PV solar technology is going to become key in the success of many more of South Africa's ‘green' building solutions.

Enquiries: Dieter Dilchert. Tel. 011 201 3200 or dieter.dilchert@lappgroup.co.za or logon to www.lappgroup.co.za