A landmark solar installation is transforming a top-performing South African farm into a model of sustainable, precision-driven agriculture.
Solarise Africa has successfully commissioned a 1.0868 MWp ground-mounted solar energy system at Genade Boerdery – Zuurgat Farm, located near Hopetown in South Africa’s Northern Cape. As one of the largest solar installations on a single agricultural site in the region, the project marks a significant milestone in sustainable energy deployment within the agri-sector.
The installation was developed under Section 12B of the Income Tax Act, an incentive aimed at accelerating commercial and industrial investment in renewable energy. It forms part of a broader strategy to drive down energy costs and improve long-term agricultural resilience through clean power.
Award-Winning Farm Goes Green
Founded in 1983, Genade Boerdery is a thriving family-run operation managed by Oom Vickie and his three sons—Gerhard, Hannes, and Vickie Junior. Over the decades, the farm has diversified its production while earning numerous national accolades, including GrainSA’s Grain Producer of the Year (2015 & 2018), Top Lucerne Producer, and Farmer of the Year.
With a strong track record of excellence, the move to solar energy is a natural extension of the family’s forward-thinking farming philosophy.
High-Efficiency Solar Design
The system consists of 1,976 Longi 550W solar panels paired with eight Huawei 115kW inverters, forming a grid-tied solution tailored to meet the farm’s irrigation and operational energy needs. Designed for durability and peak efficiency, the system is expected to deliver major savings and environmental benefits.
Over the 15-year agreement, the farm is projected to save approximately R82.2 million and offset around 24,171 tonnes of CO₂ emissions—equivalent to the environmental benefit of planting more than 400,000 trees.
Energy-as-a-Service Model
The project highlights the growing appeal of Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) models in South Africa’s agriculture sector. Developed by Solarise Africa in partnership with Broad Sky, this approach removes the barrier of upfront capital investment by allowing clients to pay for energy as they use it, rather than buying and maintaining the infrastructure themselves.
“This project represents the very best of what can be achieved when visionary farmers and innovative energy partners come together,” said Sakkie van Wijk, Co-Founder and COO of Solarise Africa. “It’s a landmark initiative—not only because it is our first 12B product, but because Genade Boerdery exemplifies the kind of leadership and stewardship we need in the agricultural sector as we build towards a sustainable future.”
Precision Farming Meets Clean Power
The system was developed and constructed by Broad Sky, whose co-owner Cor Wessels emphasized the importance of aligning solar energy with modern farming practices:
“We take great pride in partnering with large-scale farming operations that demand the highest standards of quality and precision. Working alongside Solarise Africa, we delivered a tailored solar solution that supports the principles of precision farming—leveraging advanced technologies and data-driven systems to enhance productivity and operational efficiency.”
Broader Impact
Beyond its clear energy and cost benefits, the Genade Boerdery project is also contributing to broader national goals. It reinforces food security, rural economic development, and climate resilience in a province where farming plays a critical role in local livelihoods.
The successful rollout has already led to further collaborations, including the commissioning of the Idstone Solar VSD system, another precision agriculture solution from the same Solarise–Broad Sky partnership.
As the global agricultural sector grapples with rising costs, climate risks, and energy insecurity, projects like this demonstrate the power of renewable energy to support sustainable, scalable solutions for farms of the future.
