Solar Power for Industrial Factory, Western Cape – 200 kW Commercial Solar Installation

First Energy Solar Installers has completed a 200 kW grid-tied solar installation at an industrial factory in the Western Cape. The array of 483 × 565 W glass-on-glass panels (273 kWp) feeds two 100 kW GoodWe three-phase inverters and is expected to generate at least 461,738 kWh a year – cutting the factory’s carbon emissions by more than 189 tons annually.

The brief: cover a factory’s production load

The factory runs machinery through the working day on a commercial tariff, so almost everything the panels produce is consumed on site. The brief was to cover as much of that production load as the roof allowed, with inverters matched to the factory’s distribution boards and a system registered with the supply authority.

The solution: 483 panels on two 100 kW GoodWe inverters

• 483 × 565 W glass-on-glass solar panels (273 kWp)
• 2 × 100 kW GoodWe three-phase grid-tied inverters with dual MPPT inputs
• Roof-mounted on aluminium rails with SSEG-compliant DC and AC protection and surge protection
• Online monitoring of generation and consumption
• Electrical Certificate of Compliance and SSEG registration with the supply authority handled by First Energy

The 273 kWp array is heavily over-sized for 200 kW of inverters so the factory gets strong generation in winter and the shoulder hours, when production is still running.

The results

• Estimated annual generation: 461,738 kWh – roughly 38,500 kWh a month
• Carbon avoided: over 189 tons of CO₂ per year
• Daytime production load largely supplied by solar

Commercial savings depend on the tariff, the share of consumption that falls in daylight hours and the demand profile, which is why we log the load before we design. See how we model payback, NPV and IRR for commercial solar.

Industrial solar installers for the Western Cape

We design and install industrial systems across Cape Town, Paarl, Somerset West, Epping, Blackheath and the wider Western Cape. Compare this project with our 430 kW industrial plant and 100 kW Macassar warehouse.

Frequently asked questions

Why are there 273 kWp of panels on 200 kW of inverters?
Over-sizing the array lifts generation in winter and at the start and end of the day, when the site still has load. The inverters simply cap output in the middle of a summer day.

How long does a 200 kW industrial installation take?
Typically three to four weeks on site, working around production, with the grid change-over planned for a short agreed window. Municipal SSEG authorisation runs in parallel.

Can the business claim the Section 12B tax allowance?
Yes. Solar PV generating under 1 MW can be written off in full against taxable income in the year it is brought into use (the enhanced 125% allowance ended on 28 February 2025). Confirm the treatment with your accountant.

Commercial solar for your business in the Western Cape

Send us 12 months of electricity bills and we will come back with a preliminary design, system size, cost and payback for your premises – request a free commercial solar assessment. Call 087 148 2012 or WhatsApp 084 597 1279. See our commercial solar installations in Cape Town and the Western Cape page for spend brackets, finance options and more case studies.