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Maxion Wheels investing in solar energy. (Image source: Maxion Wheels)

Maxion Wheels, a leading producer of wheels for passenger and commercial vehicles, has completed a 2.9 MWp solar project at its Johannesburg manufacturing plant
 
The move reflects a shift in the commercial and industrial (C&I) energy market to renewables and away from traditional thermal based power solutions.
 
Terra Firma, a South African C&I solar and storage solutions provider, worked on the project, timed which was timed with Maxion Wheels South Africa’s 60th anniversary event.
 
“Integrating renewable energy into our operations marks a significant milestone in our Roadmap Zero strategy towards net-zero emissions by 2040, and reinforces our position as a global leader in advanced manufacturing,” said Milos Despotovic, managing director, Maxion Wheels South Africa.
 
The carport and ground mount solar installation will supply approximately 20% of the manufacturing facility’s annual energy needs, reducing Maxion’s reliance on the national grid and providing protection against energy-related tariff increases.
 
It will also reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 5,100 tonnes per year.
 
A second phase of additional rooftop solar capacity is scheduled for completion in Q1 2026, with the possibility of integrating a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for energy arbitrage and backup power.
 
South Africa’s automotive industry contributes 5.3% of GDP and supports over 500,000 jobs across the value chain.
 
However, the sector is under increasing pressure due to global trade barriers, growing competition and decarbonisation requirements.
 
For manufacturers such as Maxion Wheels, where electricity is one of the largest input costs due to energy-intensive processes, managing energy spend is critical to maintaining competitiveness.
 
Solar power offers a solution that enables firms to reduce and manage costs, improve resilience and reduce climate impact.
 
As the world's leading manufacturer of steel and aluminium wheels, Maxion Wheels produces approximately 50 million wheels per year across its 31 locations on five continents.
 
The Johannesburg plant produces high-precision aluminium wheels for major automotive OEM customers in South Africa.
 
Given its intensive industrial processes, continuous uptime is mission-critical.
 
The plant relies on extensive machinery including various robots, integrated foundry systems and automated conveyor networks operating around the clock.
 
For Terra Firma, the project meant ensuring continuous power supply while meeting strict health, safety and operational standards at every step of the deployment.
 
Under a comprehensive medium-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Terra Firma financed, designed, engineered and installed the project, and will manage and maintain it for its lifetime.
 
The PPA delivery model offers the cost and GHG emission reduction benefits of solar power, without the capital expenditure or risks of ownership, according to said Grant Berndsen, CEO, Terra Firma.
 
“We thank Maxion Wheels for entrusting Terra Firma as their energy partner to bring this project to life,” said Berndsen.
 
“Together, we’re demonstrating how solar power helps enable long-term sustainability, resilience and global competitiveness for South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector.”
 
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Tanzania’s Geita gold mine gets connected to the national grid. (Image source: Hitachi Energy)

Hitachi Energy has completed a project to connect Tanzania’s leading gold producer, Geita Gold Mine Limited (GGML), to the national grid, displacing the use of traditional thermal gensets for energy

In a statement, Hitachi Energy said the project replaced 80% of the fossil-fuel gensets used by GGML for power generation and is expected to reduce the site’s carbon emissions by at least 50 kilotons (Kt) CO2 per annum.

Tanzania’s national grid is currently estimated to be made up of around 45.5% renewable energy sources.

“We are proud to support Geita Gold Mine Limited in this landmark achievement,” said Mohamed Hosseiny, managing director at Hitachi Energy in Africa.

AngloGold Ashanti, the owner of GGML, collaborated with the Tanzanian government, power utility Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco), and Hitachi Energy to execute the project.

As part of the deployment, Hitachi Energy delivered a state-of-the-art power electronic converter that stabilises the mine’s connection to the grid, featuring a PCS 6000 STATCOM system.

The system’s performance is further optimised through MicroSCADA, which provides crucial real-time monitoring and control.

The PCS 6000 STATCOM system was pre-assembled, tested to the highest standards, and shipped as a containerised package for fast installation on-site.

Its compact design and adaptability to harsh mining environments make it a “compelling solution” for industrial and remote grid applications, according to Hitachi Energy.

“Electrification solutions, like the STATCOM system, are vital to accelerating the global energy transition,” a statement read.

“By delivering innovative technology to high-impact markets, Hitachi Energy empowers the world’s energy system to be more sustainable, secure, resilient, and affordable.”

During the project execution, the company engaged with local partners, providing supervision and training to contractors and skills development.

Hosseiny added that it underlined the industry’s commitment to improving its environmental footprint.

“AngloGold Ashanti’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and climate resilience across their business, value chain, and communities sets a remarkable standard in the industry,” he said.

“It is reassuring that our pioneering technologies and solutions are advancing a sustainable energy future for all.”

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Wartsila signs gold mine power deal in Senegal

76mw cocoa-waste-to-energy plant in Cote d'Ivoire

Off-grid solar and storage solution to power Senegal mine

Powering Senegal's mining sector

Wärtsilä has signed a five-year deal to operate a power plant for Senegal’s Boto Gold Mine

The Finland-based group has a five-year Operation and Maintenance (O&M) agreement with Boto SA, a subsidiary of Moroccan mining group, Managem, for a 23 MW captive power plant at the mine, located in eastern Senegal.

This milestone project represents a development in support of Senegal's rapidly expanding mining and energy sector, and aligns with the transition towards a more sustainable energy mix, a Wärtsilä statement read.

The power plant, designed to support gold mining operations in a remote, off-grid location, includes a tailored optimisation plan aligned with local mining and energy requirements, in line with the national Plan Sénégal Émergent.

Located 88 km from Kédougou, near the Mali and Guinea borders, the Boto Gold Project will be powered by six Wärtsilä 32 engines (2.7 MW each) and four high-speed diesel generators (1.5 MW each).

The O&M agreement includes operating and maintaining the engines, advanced AI-powered anomaly detection and remote operational support, ensuring peak performance, optimised fuel use, and minimal downtime.

In accordance with Senegalese regulatory framework, mining companies are required to operate their own power plants in these areas, making reliable and cost-efficient energy solutions crucial for gold production and industrial growth.

“Supporting Managem Group on their first self-owned power plant reflects our commitment to delivering resilient, cost-efficient energy to Africa’s mining sector,” said Marc Thiriet, energy business director, Africa at Wärtsilä Energy.

“This project demonstrates Wärtsilä’s deep understanding of Senegal’s energy landscape and our ability to operate in alignment with the country's industrial growth and energy independence goals.”

“Wärtsilä’s flexible engine technology allows for future integration of solar energy, supporting Senegal’s broader push toward renewable energy and sustainable industrialisation,” added Thiriet. 

The contract is expected to support local employment in the Kédougou region through the engagement of local personnel and supports Senegal’s national goals of industrial growth and energy independence, especially in strategic sectors like mining.

“This partnership is a major step forward for our operations in Senegal,” said Driss Mounji, chief international operations officer at Managem Group.

“Wärtsilä’s tailored approach and advanced digital solutions provide us with the confidence to produce gold more reliably and efficiently, while also laying the foundation for future renewable integration.”

Read more:

76MW cocoa-waste-to-energy plant in Cote-d'Ivoire

Mauritania shifts to privatised power generation model

Off-grid solar and storage solution to power Senegal mine

 

 

IEA’s new analysis suggests low-emissions hydrogen production could reach 37mn tonnes a year by 2030

Despite a recent wave of project delays and cancellations, low-emissions hydrogen production is still expected to expand to 2030, though at a slower pace than once signalled, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA)

The 2025 edition of the IEA’s Global Hydrogen Review, tracks developments across the sector with particular focus on low-emissions hydrogen technologies.

Worldwide hydrogen demand reached nearly 100mn tonnes in 2024, up 2% from 2023 and broadly in line with overall energy demand growth. Most of this demand was met by hydrogen produced from fossil fuels without emissions-capturing measures, with oil refining and industry remaining the main consumers.

Producing hydrogen from fossil fuels remains much cheaper globally, a gap widened by falling natural gas prices and rising electrolyser costs. But the report expects the cost gap to narrow by 2030 due to lower technology costs, stronger renewables growth in some regions, and new regulations.

Even so, uptake of low-emissions hydrogen is lagging behind expectations. High costs, regulatory uncertainty and slow infrastructure development have restrained growth, with production projects particularly exposed. The IEA’s new analysis suggests low-emissions hydrogen production could reach 37mn tonnes a year by 2030, down from the 49mn tonnes projected from announced projects just a year earlier.

Not all projects reach completion, meaning actual capacity is likely to be lower. Still, projects already operational, under construction or with a final investment decision are set to increase more than fivefold by 2030, reaching over 4mn tonnes per year. An additional 6mn tonnes could also materialise by the end of the decade if stronger policy support ensures demand.

“Investor interest in hydrogen jumped at the start of this decade thanks to its potential to help countries deliver on their energy goals,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. “The latest data indicates that the growth of new hydrogen technologies is under pressure due to economic headwinds and policy uncertainty, but we still see strong signs that their development is moving ahead globally. To help growth continue, policy makers should maintain support schemes, use the tools they have to foster demand, and expedite the development of necessary infrastructure.”

China remains the leading force in electrolyser deployment, accounting for 65% of installed or approved capacity and nearly 60% of global manufacturing. But the report warns that Chinese producers face challenges from excess capacity, as more than 20GW per year of output far outstrips current demand.

The review also highlights the shipping sector, finding that adoption of hydrogen-based fuels will require more compatible technologies and port readiness. Nearly 80 ports worldwide already handle chemical products, offering opportunities to manage hydrogen fuels in future.

A special section on Southeast Asia notes that announced projects could boost the region’s low-emissions hydrogen production to 430,000 tonnes a year by 2030, up from just 3,000 tonnes today. Achieving this will require faster renewables deployment, targeted policies and expansion of pilot projects.

Nurturing solar uptake in Africa

ZE-Gen, the Zero Emissions Generators initiative, has announced a new partnership with CLASP to drive competition and inspire innovation in solar-powered generators across Africa and other low-income regions

ZE-Gen is a collaborative initiative of the Carbon Trust and Innovate UK, both of which receive backing, directly or indirectly, from UK public funds.

CLASP is an NGO and authority on efficient appliances’ role in fighting climate change.

By promoting cleaner alternatives, the partnership aims to support efforts to phase out fossil fuel generators and expand access to sustainable energy solutions.

“The rapidly emerging market for solar-powered generators has huge commercial potential and offers a more reliable and safer solution for energy than highly polluting fossil fuel generators,” according to ZE-Gen lead, Lily Beadle, from Carbon Trust.

“Our new partnership with CLASP will develop a new quality assurance workstream which supports ZE-Gen’s wider programme of work and will help protect customers when they switch to renewable energy.”

The two sides also plan to launch a new international solar generator competition with US$100k in innovation prizes under the Global LEAP Awards, to showcase high-performing and efficient solar-powered generators designed for communities and SMEs.

Winners and finalists will be featured in a buyer’s guide that provides product performance information to support informed purchasing decisions.

The Global LEAP Award nominations open on 8 October 2025.

The new collaboration is part of ZE-Gen and CLASP’s broader work under the UK government’s Transforming Energy Access platform, part of the Ayrton Fund.

“In emerging economies, solar-powered generators are a game changer for people and businesses without access to reliable electricity,” said CLASP’s senior director, Africa, Emmanuel Aziebor.

“Testing and showcasing innovative, efficient and user-friendly products will support CLASP and ZE-Gen’s mission to ensure cleaner, affordable generators powered by renewable energy become the default option for communities everywhere.”

Globally, more than 82 million fossil fuel generators are still in use, contributing to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, noise and health risks, with unpredictable fuel costs.

In contrast, modern solar-powered generators can offer cleaner, quieter and more cost-effective alternatives, though many do not consider them as robust or reliable as traditional thermal-based gensets, particularly in large industrial settings.

Historically, fossil fuel generators have dominated the market due to availability, upfront cost and perceived reliability.

However, modern high quality solar-powered generators eliminate the need for fuel, offering a potentially more sustainable and economical solution in certain resource-constrained settings.

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