Energy solutions provider Energy Partners has entered into a partnership with pharmaceutical manufacturer Aspen Pharmacare, to invest R300-million to build, operate and manage a centralised ammonia cooling plant at Aspen’s Gqeberha production site, in the Eastern Cape.

Energy Partners will assume full responsibility for the plant’s temperature compliance, uptime and efficiency over the 20-year span of the agreement.

Aspen’s current production facilities are spread across several large factory buildings in Gqeberha and rely on several independent cooling and heating systems.

Energy Partners will replace this with a centralised 17 MWR (megawatts of refrigeration) ammonia cooling and heating system.

Construction on the project is already under way, with the centralised plant expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.

Additionally, the initial phase has been designed for expansion by 25% to meet planned future growth.

The agreement is an example of the cooling-as-a-service (CaaS) model pioneered by Energy Partners across multiple sectors in South Africa over the last decade.

“The decision to implement CaaS is highly beneficial for Aspen and a milestone for Energy Partners. It's a transformative model that shifts Aspen’s operational risk to us, enabling them to focus on their core business and it ensures that their new refrigeration facility remains 100% off their balance sheet,” Energy Partners CEO Manie de Waal explains.

“Combining heating and cooling into one central system reduces energy use through improved load diversity management and advanced control systems.

“The transition to a centralised ammonia-based system – a natural refrigerant with zero environmental impact – is expected to cut energy consumption by more than 40%, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions, while being designed to be inherently safe,” says Energy Partners refrigeration GM Dawie Kriel.

Energy Partners says this project is the largest ammonia system of its kind in the country and represents a considerable stride in sustainability and the pharmaceutical industry’s approach to energy management.