A recent industrial solutions focused webinar, hosted by global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions Vertiv, provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by, and the innovative solutions available to, the commercial and industrial sectors in Africa. Chaired by business, leadership and technology consulting services provider Collaboretix MD Nils Gerstle, the webinar featured expert panellists including Vertiv MD for Africa Wojtek Piorko, Vertiv Technical Director for Africa Jonathan Duncan, and Namibia-based Swakop Electrical CEO Jaco Duvenhage, who shared their perspectives on addressing power-related issues, embracing sustainability and deploying cutting-edge technologies across the continent.

Tackling Power-Related Industrial Challenges

Panellists Piorko, Duncan and Duvenhage delved into the pressing power-related industrial challenges in Africa, emphasising the critical role of innovative infrastructure solutions, localisation and proper maintenance services in overcoming these hurdles.

“Vertiv's commitment to the African market is evident through its robust presence, with dedicated teams and direct presence in five countries,” noted Piorko. “The company aims to provide a comprehensive range of data centre and industrial solutions, focusing on the needs of commercial and industrial markets across the continent.”

Vertiv is at the forefront of developing new technologies to enhance power quality and sustainability in industrial markets. Duncan highlighted the significance of monitoring and maintaining IT equipment in harsh industrial environments to ensure power availability and optimised operations.

“Vertiv's innovations include energy storage systems and densified UPS modules designed to perform in challenging conditions,” he said.

Sustainability in Industrial Industries

On the question of sustainability, Piorko noted that each company approaches sustainability differently, with varied measurement criteria and perspectives. “I believe that a logical approach to sustainability involves examining it from the manufacturing, operational and post-use or reuse stages,” he said.

In terms of manufacturing, he emphasised the importance of ensuring a reliable supply chain, sourcing from partners with established environmental goals, and optimising internal processes. Due to its success, Vertiv is expanding with new factories that incorporate the latest manufacturing trends and experience. It also commits to using recycled materials in both production and packaging.

On the operational side, Piorko stressed the need for achieving the highest possible efficiency, mentioning the development of a hybrid solution in Africa that has a low environmental impact, as well as products designed to use less water, such as new chillers. Additionally, Vertiv employs proactive maintenance software to reduce the number of necessary service visits.

He pointed out that companies often refurbish or optimise their existing portfolios due to funding challenges. Vertiv offers solutions such as adding solar functionality or higher efficiency rectifiers to DC power systems. Piorko also emphasised the reuse of certain components or entire solutions, such as Vertiv’s IMS solutions, which can be relocated from one site to another.

“For instance, a data centre can be moved from a completed mining site to a new location, eliminating the need to purchase new equipment,” he noted.

Overall, the company’s approach to sustainability encompasses the entire lifecycle of its products, from manufacturing and operations to reuse, ensuring a positive environmental impact.

Duvenhage further noted the integration of new technologies and hybrid solutions to reduce the carbon footprint in the mining industry.

Meanwhile, Gerstle underscored the importance of operational sustainability, including green efficiency and component reuse. African customers are increasingly demanding sustainable products, driving Vertiv to develop smart modular products that reduce diesel fuel consumption and promote equipment reuse.

Duncan described the evolution of modular data centres as being tailored for high-density computing and AI applications in mining. Vertiv's engineers design modular solutions to meet specific customer needs, leveraging partnerships with chip manufacturers Nvidia and Intel for rapid AI adoption.

Piorko drew attention to Vertiv’s product development process in Africa, which involved close collaboration with local customers to understand their specific needs. Working with a local R&D team and a telco tower company, they identified key issues such as safety, reliability, efficiency and ease of maintenance. This led to the introduction of a DC power hybrid system that can be installed on-grid or off-grid, utilising power sources such as  grid electricity, generators, solar panels or batteries. The system's controller selects the most available or cost-effective power source, ensuring tailored solutions for local requirements.

Duncan addressed the topic of power consumption in high-density cabinets or racks, noting that while typical cabinets currently consume between five and ten kilowatts, there are real-life requirements exceeding 100 kW. To manage such high power consumption, traditional air cooling is insufficient, necessitating the use of liquid cooling and other advanced methods. Projections even suggest that future cabinets might require up to 250 kW, which will likely involve full immersion cooling systems to effectively manage the heat.

Modular Construction for Faster Deployment

Further, Vertiv shed light on the advantages and efficiencies of prefabricated modular solutions in industrial and commercial deployments. From speed and quality to sustainability and cost-effectiveness, these solutions offer a transformative approach to infrastructure development.

“When it comes to deploying modular solutions, the time from initial engagement to on-site delivery is notably reduced. Prefabricated solutions are fully integrated before shipping and undergo comprehensive testing prior to deployment. This pre-assembly process translates to significant on-site time savings, typically ranging from 50% to 70%.

“By assembling components in a controlled factory environment, Vertiv eliminates the need for on-site generators during assembly, reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. This method not only enables a seamless assembly process but also mitigates retrofitting issues, resulting in a stress-free work environment for personnel,” remarks Duncan.

Vertiv is also innovating in its business model to complement its modular solutions. The company collaborates with specific countries and distribution partners to maintain local stocks of essential products, such as UPS systems up to 100 kW, PDUs and racks. “This strategy ensures that critical components are readily available, enhancing the speed and efficiency of deployments,” notes Piorko.

For particular markets, Vertiv takes a proactive approach by maintaining local stocks based on customer commitments. This ensures full alignment in implementation, particularly for telco customers who often need to deploy hundreds of systems. By employing an open, smart and collaborative model, Vertiv coordinates with its operations team and customer inputs to create comprehensive deployment plans that are easy to manage and execute.

The panellists concluded by underscoring the critical role of innovative infrastructure solutions in addressing power-related challenges in Africa. With a focus on sustainability, localisation and advanced technologies, Vertiv is well-positioned to support the continent's commercial and industrial sectors. Through tailored solutions, robust local support and a commitment to sustainability, Vertiv continues to empower Africa's industrial future.

To watch a recording of the webinar, click here.

If you’re interested in learning more about Vertiv, please visit their website at www.vertiv.com or contact Jacqui Gradwell on +27 63 608 2339.