Danone South Africa commissions installation of grid-connected microgrid 

SOUTH AFRICA – Danone South Africa, a regional operator of the giant Danone, has commissioned the installation of a grid-connected microgrid.

Delivered as a turnkey EPC project, Clarke Energy integrated a new INNIO Jenbacher gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant with the facility’s existing solar photovoltaic (PV) array and diesel backup generators.

This hybrid energy system forms the backbone of a flexible and robust solution that is managed by an advanced microgrid controller.

According to Clarke Energy, the controller dynamically balances energy sources based on cost, availability, and sustainability, ensuring continuous optimisation around the clock.

The microgrid mitigates the effects of South Africa’s ongoing energy supply challenges. By enhancing energy resilience, the installation safeguards dairy production against voltage dips and power outages that frequently affect municipal supply.

Clarke Energy noted that the microgrid significantly enhances energy resilience, protecting operations from frequent voltage dips and outages in the municipal supply, and enabling uninterrupted 24/7 dairy production.

The project also aligns closely with Danone’s long-term environmental goals. “This solution delivers a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, aligning with Danone’s Impact Journey, which was re-focused in 2023 to reinforce its commitment to sustainability,” Clarke Energy explained.

Additionally, the system has been designed with hydrogen-readiness in mind, positioning the facility to meet Danone’s 2050 net-zero emissions target. As South Africa’s foremost producer of fermented dairy products, Danone now enjoys a future-proof, efficient, and secure energy supply.

The project, which began in 2023, will allow Danone to harness waste heat, converting it into steam and hot water, thereby further reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

Clarke Energy highlighted the hydrogen-ready nature of the CHP solution, which offers the flexibility to transition to hydrogen operation as soon as a sufficient supply becomes available.

The 5-MW CHP system comprises two containerized engines from Innio Group’s J616 Jenbacher, a waste heat boiler, and a 75,000-liter thermal storage unit supplied by Clarke Energy, which will supply hot water to the distribution system.

The microgrid controller systems will seamlessly integrate the CHP engines with four existing diesel gensets, a solar photovoltaic array from a third party, and the grid.

“With our frequent power supply outages, this microgrid solution will allow us to become independent from the grid, increase production uptime, and integrate various distributed energy resources, including hydrogen, all while reducing our carbon footprint,” Kid Nkantsu, Senior Director for Operations and ‘Design to Deliver’ at Danone Sub-Saharan Africa, said.

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