By: Dealer floor

A solar carport and ground mount installation has been energized at Maxion Wheels South Africa's facility, celebrated during the company's 60th anniversary event.

The installation will supply approximately 20% of the 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 emissions by approximately 5,100 tonnes annually.

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. For manufacturers like Maxion Wheels, where electricity is one of the largest input costs due to energy-intensive processes, managing energy spend is critical to maintaining competitiveness.

The Johannesburg plant produces high-precision aluminium wheels for major automotive OEM customers and requires continuous uptime for its mission-critical industrial processes.

Under a comprehensive multi-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Terra Firma developed, designed, engineered and installed the project and will manage and maintain it for its lifetime. This model offers the cost and emission reduction benefits of solar power without the capital expenditures or risks of ownership.

Milos Despotovic, Managing Director of Maxion Wheels South Africa, stated that integrating renewable energy marks a significant milestone in the company's Roadmap Zero strategy towards net-zero emissions by 2040.

Grant Berndsen, CEO of Terra Firma, said the project demonstrates how solar power enables long-term sustainability, resilience and global competitiveness for South Africa's automotive manufacturing sector.