1

PV Insider has announced the launch of the PV Project Development Summit of South Africa, to be held in

Johannesburg on 3-4 September 2012: the event will bring together experts from leading international and

local companies operating in the photovoltaic field and Convert Italia will be present.

It would be an occasion to share the expertise so to maximize the development and the importance for the

photovoltaic sector in a rising economy for renewables, like South Africa.

The South African Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) has been finished, adjusted and lastly approved in

March 2011. The project casts energy needs of South Africa over the next twenty years, aiming to create

additional electrical power from renewable sources amounted to 17,800 MW by 2030, corresponding to

42% of the total of new electricity generation. By December 2011 the Department of Energy had received

53 bids split in all the different renewable technologies (632 MW photovoltaic, 150 MW di CSP and 634

MW Wind).

While the PV industry has to deal with the effects of large cuts in the FIT in Europe and with a cloud of

uncertainty surrounding the industry of the United States at the end of subsidies, experts predict further

growth in South Africa. 18 projects were awarded in the first round of the IRP and a further 650 MW of

photovoltaic capacity should be confirmed by August.

A developer selected by the Department of Energy of South Africa as a preferred bidder in the IRP, Soitec,

announced that their project 36MW CPV in Tousrivier in the Western Cape has obtained a loan from

Investec and construction will begin later this year. Also thanks to the support from the African

Development Bank, Absa Bank, Standard Bank and the IFC to finance photovoltaic projects in the region,

experts believe that developers will continue to provide financial support.

The development of ground mounted systems present many challenges, from network instability to lack of

local skilled labor to achieve the objectives. Developers are encouraged to move quickly to meet their

deadlines and complete projects on budget.

In this so important international appointment Convert Italia - Italian company active in the energy field for

more than 30 years - will take part as a Sponsor, presenting its own technological solutions.

Among them the TRJ TK, which came from a successfully show within the energy operators at the Intersolar

trade fair in Munich and the recent PV Project Development Summit just held in New Delhi.

Convert TRJ TK is the outcome of the constant commitment of Convert Italia to research and develop new

products, besides the EPC experience in the PV ground mounted systems realizations. It has been

developed as a kit to be perfectly integrated into any common single mounting-post fixed structure and to

provide the whole daily tracking of the sun (East-West).

The main distinguish feature comparing to similar products on the market, is the possibility for the

costumer to prepare the standard steel structures (steel pole foundations, cross bars and modules

supports) locally and independently of Convert Italia, without any royalty, so to guarantee a significant

price reduction on the global plant realization cost.