The Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has kick-started the R135 million first phase of a five-phase renewable energy programme at its Silverton assembly plant in Pretoria. 
The project aims to make the plant 100% carbon neutral and energy self-sufficient by 2024.
This phase of Ford’s Project Blue Oval renewable energy programme involves installing specially developed and locally manufactured solar photovoltaic carports throughout the facility.
It will use more than 31 000 solar panels covering 4 200 parking bays to generate 13.5 megawatts of solar energy, about 30% of the plant’s annual energy requirement.