Telecommunications giant MTN South Africa is deploying multiple generation technologies, including solar, gas and battery energy storage systems, in one plant at its head office in Fairlands, Johannesburg, as it works toward becoming a standalone independent power producer (IPP).

The plant, which houses five different generation technologies – said to be a first in South Africa – has a full load of 4.5 MW during loadshedding.

MTN intends adding a 4 MW grid tied solar system (5 MWp) and a 2 MW/6 MWh battery energy storage system to the existing plant which currently has a 2 MW gas trigeneration system, a 330 kW concentrating solar power (CSP) plant and a fleet of backup diesel generators.

Phase 2 of the project will result in a further increase in solar and battery energy with the potential opportunity to feed energy back to the power grid, which, in turn, will drastically reduce MTN’s carbon emissions footprint.

MTN aims to align with the Paris Agreement scenario of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and achieve net zero emissions by 2040, 10 years earlier than the objective set by global telecommunications industry body GSMA.

“We are pioneering embedded generation technology and making swift progress. Everything is on track for us to soon become an IPP in our own right, allowing us to better manage our energy when loadshedding strikes,” said MTN CEO Charles Molapisi, adding that, as an IPP, MTN will be able to assist the City of Johannesburg to generate power in peak periods and help, in some measure, to alleviate South Africa’s energy crunch.

“Once completed, our grid dependency will be significantly reduced. When loadshedding starts, the facility will disconnect from the City Power grid and multiple non-interruptible power supplies will power essential services.”

This provides time for the diesel generators to start and power each building in the facility.

When the system is stable, a controller will engage switch gear to energise a medium-voltage (11 kV) distribution network, following which the 2 MW gas engines in the trigeneration plant will be energised, allowing the diesel generation to be reduced, supported by the 2 MW battery energy storage system.

“During the day, the solar plant will also assist, further reducing dependency on the diesel generators and battery energy storage system. During normal daily operation, the solar and battery energy storage system will reduce the amount of energy required from City Power during daytime and peak demand periods," explains Molapisi.