Trina donates to South African installation
Trina Solar has donated solar modules of a total of 4 kW to ELDO Energy for the installation of the hybrid system SunStar also known as PharoX on top of Signal Hill in Cape Town, South Africa. The rooftop system installed beside the SunStar is storaging the energy in batteries and lighting up the star during the night.
The SunStar was conceptualised by Cape Town artist Christopher Swift for the 2014 World Design Capital and will remain erected for a duration of 13 months. The hybrid installation is constructed out of the old Robben Island prison fence and is meant to create an iconic and significant installation honoring the heroes that Robben Island prison bred, creating a vision for the new South Africa in its 20th year of democracy. The installation stands for innovation, possibility, creativity, courage, strength, diversity and care for the people of SA, inspiring people to see "Beyond the fence."
The 30 meter high structure in the shape of a sphere surrounded by a frame of the sun rays resembling a star is open for educational tours, film screenings, a hub for sporting events, exhibitions and debates and public meetings. The construction will be dismantled after one year and will benefit a communal or social institution in replacing a high percentage of their energy consumption with solar energy and therefore reducing their energy costs significantly.
"Trina Solar is very happy to be part of this iconic project that does not only have symbolic value but will have a lasting benefit to several communities in Cape Town. It is a sign that solar energy has great potential in South Africa and that it can serve people in need", says Ben Hill, President of Trina Solar Europe and Africa. "Further at Trina Solar, we are committed to bringing affordable and clean energy across the globe and we look forward to developing the South African market in conjunction with our partners by offering them better and faster support from our newly opened warehouse, and expert sales team based in Johannesburg.
ELDO Energy and Trina Solar have had a strong and successful working relationship during the course of 2014. Tim Ohlsen, CEO of ELDO Group said that "the business relationship that we have with Trina Solar has been a great success. We elected to use Trina Solar as our power partner due to the quality of their solar PV panels and their leadership in the global market". Trina Solar supplied one of ELDO's key projects with their monocrystalline DC05A.08 modules for a rooftop project.