From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

Amid the compounding effects of loadshedding in South Africa and increasing concerns about climate change, appliance manufacturer Defy has launched its Solar Off-Grid fridge and freezer range to address local energy challenges. Sabrina Jardim tells us more.

Sabrina Jardim:

Defy Appliances’s Solar Off-Grid range aims to provide reliable, ‘always-on’ refrigeration to ensure food preservation and, consequently, reduce food waste.

The range is designed specifically to reduce electricity consumption and reliance on the national electricity grid by functioning completely off-grid with battery and solar integration. The energy supply is uninterrupted by switching between battery power at night and solar power during the day to ensure always on freshness.

Speaking at the launch last month, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel commented that this was a “milestone event” for Defy and for the local consumer goods sector, noting that the range meets a number of national objectives.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel…

Sabrina Jardim:

Patel also noted that the range provides a base for the export of products to other African countries, thereby aligning with the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation Plan and stimulating industrialisation and growth across the continent.

He added that the launch provides an opportunity for South Africa to create an additional footprint in the green industrialisation space.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel…

Defy Appliances CEO Mustafa Soylu…

Defy Appliances regional marketing manager Cagdas Fidan…

Sashnee Moodley:

The Kelvin power station, in Isando, has installed a demonstration multi-pollutant abatement pilot system that removes carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides. Schalk Burger has the story.

Schalk Burger:

The CoalCO₂-X pilot project is a collaboration between German and South African public and private organisations with the aim to enable coal- and fossil fuel-fired power plants to meet emissions standards and produce usable products from the emissions.

The pilot project turns the captured gases into a variety of products, including synthetic diesel fuel, ammonium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, nitric acid and sulphuric acid.

EPCM Global Engineering CEO Tumi Kgomo details some of the reactions in the pilot plant.

EPCM Global Engineering CEO Tumi Kgomo…

Schalk Burger:

Kgomo then highlighted that captured CO2 is used to produce ammonium bicarbonate crystal. After this, any remaining ammonia is washed out in another reactor using the sulphuric acid produced in a previous stage to produce an ammonium sulphate.

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.