Expansion of SA’s lone locally-owned solar panel manufacturer to spark unique skills and jobs

South Africa's only locally-owned solar panel manufacturer ARTsolar, plans to expand to a whopping 500MW facility to meet the demands for supply into independent power producer (IPP) projects. To increase their capacity, ARTsolar, made an investment pledge of R108 million at the South Africa Investment Conference in April.

ARTsolar is a market leader for renewable energy turnkey solutions. It was established in 2010 and is based in New Germany, west of Durban. Over the years, ARTsolar has built a reputation for a dependable, cost-effective, and comprehensive South African solar PV module manufacturer and turnkey provider.

“Receiving this recognition from President Cyril Ramaphosa was a milestone and came after some major developments within the business,” said General manager Viren Gosai. 

The company recently completed an advanced technological upgrade to 325MW capacity and partnered with Tier 1 manufacturer, Talesun Solar. They are now also the exclusive manufacturer of Solar PV Modules under the Honeywell brand, following a successful Clean Energy Associates (CEA) and Honeywell audits.

“Our facility has also been certified by TUV- which is highly recognised worldwide as a trademark of trust and quality, as well as DEKRA and UL which are internationally recognised certification bodies,” added Gosai.

ARTsolar completes more than 500 turnkey renewable energy projects annually for residential and commercial clients as well as utility scale projects. As pioneers in the industry they have partnered with global Tier 1 companies. Tier 1 companies use the best grade materials to produce a solar panel. “Our facility is capable of manufacturing Tier 1 panels which are manufactured according to global leading standards using the latest technology,” said Gosai.

 The ARTsolar team comprises board qualified engineers and accredited technicians, who ensure that every installation is safe and complies with the requisite regulations. Upon completion of the installation, certificates of compliance- electrical, structural and others as required-  are issued to the client, ensuring that all regulatory standards are being met. They have a nationwide footprint offering 24/7 technical support.

“Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal has always supported ARTsolar in its endeavours as a local manufacturer. TIKZN has played an instrumental role in ARTsolarÂ’s exhibits, facility launch and sponsorship of certifications. We further require the support of government in terms of regulation to ensure that the localisation is sustained and overthrown by imports which choke our economy. With ARTsolarÂ’s expansion we have the opportunity to provide jobs and training with a skill set that no other company in the country is currently providing, This will give our candidates an advantage like no other. We would like the support of local businesses to purchase modules from us and support our local initiatives,” concluded Gosai.  The completion of ARTsolarÂ’s expansion will bring 220 jobs.