en.Wedoany.com Reported - Ener-G-Africa (EGA) has opened its solar panel manufacturing plant in Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa, with a nameplate assembly capacity of 150 MW per year. The manufacturing plant currently operates on a single shift with approximately 30 employees and is in the production ramp-up phase, with output set to gradually increase based on market demand.

The manufacturing plant assembles 550 W monocrystalline PERC modules and can also produce smaller formats and high-power modules exceeding 600 W in bifacial configurations. The production line can also be mechanically adjusted to accommodate TOPCon cell technology, a more advanced cell technology. EGA CEO André Moolman stated: "From a production perspective, the goal is to scale up according to demand, transitioning from a single shift to two shifts, and ultimately to three shifts."

Moolman noted that Paarl's strategic location facilitates the import of components through the Port of Cape Town, and the area boasts mature industrial infrastructure and a skilled workforce. Support from the Western Cape provincial government has also played a significant role. EGA has another manufacturing plant in Paarl, sharing infrastructure, with a total workforce of around 55 employees. The company is one of only two solar panel manufacturers in South Africa, focusing on the residential, commercial, and agricultural markets, and does not engage in the utility-scale sector.

The advantage of local assembly lies in combining specialized, internationally sourced components into finished products. These components include crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, low-iron anti-reflective solar glass, and others, none of which are currently manufactured in South Africa. Moolman believes the market has not yet reached the scale required to justify capital investment in upstream manufacturing, but as local assembly develops, it may create conditions for upstream suppliers.

In terms of technology, the industry has shifted from polycrystalline silicon cells to monocrystalline silicon cells, with new technologies like TOPCon improving efficiency and long-term performance. Module power ratings have steadily increased, and bifacial modules have become more common. Moolman stated: "The broader technological shift is the combination of solar energy with battery storage, where storage costs have fallen to a level that makes solar-plus-storage systems more competitive."

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