In recognition of International Clean Energy Day on 26 January, RS South Africa is highlighting the recent installation of solar solution at the RS South Africa offices and site, which accommodates close to 100 employees. It will reduce electricity demand from the grid, cut carbon emissions, and slash energy costs, which reflects a proactive response to evolving energy landscapes and global sustainability goals.
The day raises awareness and mobilises action for a just and inclusive transition to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet. It highlights the importance of clean energy to reduce emissions and promote sustainable development. It also celebrates the founding of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), established on 26 January 2009.
To maintain operations during loadshedding, RS South Africa relied on a diesel-run backup generator that added significantly to its CO2 emissions. This resulted in an additional monthly expense over and above the regular electricity bill, commented De Wet Joubert, Operations and Strategic Director.
“Embracing a solar energy system aligns with our commitment to ‘Making Amazing Happen for a Better World’. Opting for solar power ensures operational stability, tackles the challenge of rising energy costs, and actively works towards minimising our carbon footprint by reducing reliance on diesel for generators,” emphasised Brian Andrew, Managing Director of RS South Africa, highlighting the company’s dedication to sustainability and creating a positive impact on the world.
The theme for International Clean Energy Day 2024 is ‘Clean Energy for All’, which ties in with RS’s global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. “ESG is fundamental to our purpose, strategy, and decision-making. I am delighted that RS has a strong ESG ethos both in how we work but also how we serve our customers and suppliers and support our communities,” said Simon Pryce, RS Group CEO.
RS South Africa installed a solar energy system comprising a 50 kW hybrid inverter, a 40 kW battery pack, and a 52 kW solar panel array. These are all large enough to maintain and secure ongoing operations on-site, with the inverter converting the energy captured by the solar solution into usable energy and storing some in the batteries for later use.
The installation was conducted in two phases and completed late last year. In its first month of full operation in October 2023, it generated just over 3.35 MWh. The diesel generator will now return to its primary role as an emergency backup.
“We are proud of RS South Africa’s contribution to our ‘For a Better World Action Plan’. We have a strong foundation to build on and the ambition to do more,” said Andrew. The 2030 ESG action plan to support a more sustainable and inclusive world was launched in November 2021 around four global goals and 15 ambitious actions for 2030.
“Beyond our products, we are developing solutions to help our customers reduce energy consumption and decarbonise their facilities. We also have significant opportunities to support the growth of low-carbon industries as a key MRO partner,” concluded Andrew.
RS Group
RS Group plc is a leading global omni-channel industrial product and service solutions provider to customers who are involved in designing, building and maintaining industrial equipment and operations, safely and sustainably. We stock more than 700,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provide a wide range of product and service solutions to over 1.2 million customers. With operations in 32 countries, we trade through multiple channels and ship over 60,000 parcels a day.
We support customers across the product life cycle, whether via innovation and technical support at the design phase, improving time to market and productivity at the build phase, or reducing purchasing costs and optimising inventory in the maintenance phase. We offer our customers tailored product and service propositions that are essential for the successful operation of their businesses and help them save time and money.
RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March 2022 reported revenue of £2,554 million.
For more information, please visit https://www.rsgroup.com/.
