Kayema Featured on SolarThermalWorld.org

Recently one of the most prestigious online portals for the solar thermal energy industry featured the  inauguration of the 117 flat panel system installed by Kayema Energy Solutions above the rooftop of the Legacy Group Hotel Da Vinci, in Johannesburg, South Africa, in March: Cutting the ribbon were (from the left) Daniel Schwab (CEO of Kayema Energy Solutions), Enoch Godongwana (Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises), Dov Segev-Steinberg (Israeli Ambassador to South Africa) and Or Pearl (Israeli trade attaché).
Photo: Kayema

South Africa: Three partners – one Solar Project
Submitted by Baerbel Epp on Fri, 07/09/2010 – 06:00.

South African Electricity Price Projections

Often one has to dig deep in order to find the important information in the media. Yesterday’s article in the Engineering News titled “Eskom says can find cash for power stations” had a few lines of very important information mid way into the article.

Eskom’s new Chief Financial Officer Paul O’Flaherty is quoted as saying that ” …Eskom was working under the assumption that tariffs would rise by a further 25 percent in the fourth and fifth year as well”.

The importance of this cannot be over estimated for a few reasons. Firstly, compounding increases of 25% for five years in a row will almost triple the cost of electricity in South Africa. This is a big knock for a country that once upon a time assumed that electricity was free. Secondly, this statement by a highly respected insider within the utility offers a level of certainty to investors with regards to the energy prices in South Africa, something that is sorely lacking and that is probably one of the biggest drags on investment into the energy efficiency and renewable energy sector in South Africa. Thirdly, corporate South Africa is only now waking up to the reality of sky rocketing electricity prices. The party is over!

VIDEO: Daniel Schwab And James Shirley Discuss the new commercial SWH system at the Hotel Da Vinci

Deputy Minister Of public Enterprises Inaugurates Kayema System

Israeli Ambassador to South Africa Dov Sergev-Steinberg and Public Enterprises Deputy Minister Enoch Godongwana on Monday inaugurated the 117 flat panel collector solar water heating installation above the rooftop of the Hotel Da Vinci, in Sandton…

View the full article from Engineering News

Luxury Sandton Hotel Gets Five Star Solar System

The penthouse suite at the Michelangelo Hotel, affords one a panoramic view across the rooftops of Sandton’s Central Business District, where upon closer inspection, you will discover that one rooftop in particular stands out noticeably from the rest.

Sporting 117 flat panel solar collectors capable of heating water for 138 guest rooms is the rooftop of The Hotel Da Vinci, Legacy Development’s latest jewel in its Sandton Crown.

Along with it’s strong commitment towards building with renewable energy, Legacy realized the value that installing a commercial system of this size would have in reducing the Hotel’s consumption of electricity and it’s overall operating costs.

The complexity of design and implementation of this Solar System required a collaborative effort between The Hotel’s partner on this project, Kayema Energy Solutions and their team of international solar experts together with Legacy’s architects and design engineers.

The result is a cutting edge Solar Water Heating System capable of pre-heating 30 000 litres of water before it enters into the Hotel’s electrical heating system, reducing the Hotel’s electricity usage by at least 60%.

An additional innovation of Kayema’s is the remote monitoring system which monitors flow rates, temperatures and water pressure and will allow an instantaneous view of this system’s efficiency and performance from any computer desktop 24/7.

The complete Solar system is scheduled for completion by end of February 2010 in line with Legacy’s required timings.

Dovvi Finger, Kayema's project manager at Legacy, stands beside the 3x10 000 litre boilers.

Installation teams work on plumbing the intricate piping that connects all 117 solar collectors to the main inlet that passes into the heat exchanger

The view of Kayema's system from the top of The Michelangelo hotel.

117 Panels were required to heat the 30 000 litres of water needed by the hotel

Kayema End Of Year Event

On 2 December  Kayema held an end of year event which featured a talk on solar thermal technology by Eli Shilton, a director of Kayema and of Rand Solar, a leading Israeli renewable energy company. The talk was followed by a delicious catered braai and demonstration of the Kayema system for all the suppliers, partners and agents who attended. Kayema plans to host regular events that should prove equally successful. Should you wish to be added to the guest list, simply e-mail info@kayema.com and we will be happy to send you an invitation.

Kayema Gets SABS Stamp Of Approval

After a battery of rigorous quality checks and tests, Kayema’s range of Solar water Heating Systems have been awarded SABS certification.

Legacy Project Right On Schedule

With 50 panels already installed on the roof of The Legacy Hotel In Sandton, Kayema is right on schedule to meet their obligations for a fully functioning Solar Water Heating systems ready in time for the Hotel’s grand opening early in 2010.

Kayema Mentioned At National Solar Water Heating Conference

On the 5th of May, all stakeholders gathered at the National Solar water Heating Conference in Johannesburg to present and discuss a framework for rolling out a massive initiative that would see 1 million solar water heating systems installed on homes in South Africa by 2015. Israel was cited as an example of a country that had achieved massive success with penetration of solar water heating systems because of government legislation and incentives. Kayema was mentioned as a South African company that had the advantage of a close association with Israeli experts in the solar water heating industry, and the ability to leverage this intellectual capital to assist the South African initiative with its rollout.

Kayema Gets Brandsmiths Onboard

Kayema has engaged with Creative Marketing Agency Brandsmiths to assist in developing it’s branding and commuication strategy. “It is really exciting to be working together with a company that has such positive people, and such a compelling product offering. Having a great product to sell, always makes a marketers job infinitely easier.” Comments Adam Levin , Brandsmiths Director