Former Ladysmith lad brings energy to the country
In recent years, he has been the commercial and technical manager for a multi-national energy company’s utility-scale projects in Southern Africa
Muhammad Taher Khan, originally from Ladysmith, grew up and spent his entire schooling life in this town, going to ML Sultan Primary and Ladysmith Secondary School (Lasec).
His company, Zero Point Energy, was recently appointed as the system and electrical design engineers on a 320kWp solar PV system that was installed at the new Sackforce factory site just 7km out of Ladysmith on the R103 as you drive from Ladysmith to the toll, catching the N3 north. Muhammad still has family in Ladysmith, but he is currently based in Johannesburg.
The project developer for this project was Sonfin, to whom Zero Point Energy was sub-contracted as the system and electrical design engineers.
Sonfin was responsible for construction and they assisted with construction support. This solar PV system is one of the largest ground-mounted private solar PV facilities constructed in KwaZulu-Natal to date and generates electricity the equivalent of what approximately 133 average South African households would consume in a year.
The intention is for Sackforce to offset their Eskom-supplied electricity with this new renewable source of electricity. The plant was fully commissioned and went live on Friday, September 30. It is now generating at full power.
Muhammad is a professionally registered electrical engineer (Pr.Eng) and has a Masters degree in Engineering Management. He has worked in the power and renewable energy sector for the past six years for multi-national energy companies with focus on solar, wind and gas power projects across Africa.
Muhammad started as a project engineer and progressed to a project manager.
In recent years, he has been the commercial and technical manager for a multi-national energy company’s utility-scale projects in Southern Africa.
Last year, he set up Zero Point Energy as a start-up venture with a former classmate who also studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Witwatersrand.
The company provides unique and valuable expertise in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, off-grid and back-up solutions, water efficiency and responsible waste management.
They have designed and engineered over 1400kW of solar PV to date, and are currently involved in 14 projects in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Northern Cape.
With consistent improvements and cost reductions in generation and energy storage technology, they are well on their way to realising tremendous benefits for the environment and all societies.
In South Africa, they just need some inspired leadership to remove the regulatory and policy bottlenecks that are holding the commercial and industrial-scale renewable energy industry back. However, he is optimistic that they will get there in the next five years with the ongoing interaction between the private sector and government entities such as Eskom, Department of Energy and the electricity regulator NERSA.
Well done, Muhammad, for taking such big strides to help the environment and in doing so, making Ladysmith proud!
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