Meridian Energy prides itself on being South Africa’s holistic partner for energy. In just nine years, the company has built up a reputation for excellence as it continues to rally for wider energy security within the region. Directors Daniel van Aarde and Thomas Lewis laid out the journey, in conversation with Imogen Ward.
eridian Energy evolved from a long-term friendship and two men’s dedication to overcome energy insecurity within South Africa.
“Thomas and I have been friends since 2010, when we bonded over our passion for renewable energy,” shared Director Daniel van Aarde. “After having long conversations about the state of the South African energy landscape, we decided to merge my technical expertise with Thomas’ commercial and financial insights, and experience in order to develop the perfect customer
The journey to success
Although the partners registered their first joint business in 2010, it was not until 2016 that Meridian Energy would come to life, and a further five years before it really started gaining momentum.
“Things only really took off in early 2021, due to prior commitments and the pandemic getting in the way,” added Director Thomas Lewis. “From there, the business grew considerably, we doubled our assets, and we have been pretty successful ever since.”
Even now, the company continues to grow, with numerous new projects in
the works and important expansion plans under consideration. Thanks to the growing popularity of its offering, Meridian Energy is now looking to open new regional offices across South Africa.
“Our clients and their projects have taken us to every corner of the country,” said Mr van Aarde. “And our business has grown to a point now, where expanding our physical presence would be of benefit to both Meridian Energy and its clients.”
The company intends to implement a strategic ‘hub and spoke’ model that will
see new locations crop up in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.
Through this expansion, Meridian Energy hopes to better support its clients and their projects nationwide.
Previous accomplishments
Over the years, Meridian Energy has been involved in a number of great projects, including several major solar-powered examples.
“South Africa, at present, has one of the highest uptakes of solar power per capita across the world,” shared Mr van Aarde. “This
is largely due to people’s desire for energy security in a country that is experiencing record-high tariffs and energy instability.”
“During 2020 alone, local utility companies completed 7,000 hours of load shedding, and in 2023, energy availability reached a trough of only 55 per cent,” added Mr Lewis. “This consistent instability has led to energy costs increasing by 650 per cent over the last 15 years, and it has inspired a lot of people to find alternative solutions to overcome this challenging environment. Meridian Energy is proud to help its customers find solutions that are not only energy efficient but also generate significant cost savings.”
From retirement estates to car washes and retail centres, Merdian Energy has supplied a wide range of facilities.
Some of the most notable projects include a hybrid solar plant solution. Completed just last year, this project saw Meridian Energy install a 510kW solar plant on a warehousing facility. The project also included a 630KVA PCS and 800kW/h of BESS storage.
“This solution provided our customers with an energy security buffer, which reduced their reliance on back-up generators,” explained Mr Lewis. “Towards the end of last year, we also installed a 414kWp peak solar system on the roof of a retail facility which houses fast-moving consumer goods, restaurants and retail space. The area it is in is susceptible to a lot of power outages on top of the scheduled load shedding, so, we also installed a 950kWh Hybrid BESS solution to provide as much energy security as possible.”
Solar panels are inherently sustainable, and working in such a green-focused field has also inspired Merdian Energy to reflect inwardly. The company has already introduced green practices relating to waste management and equipment usage, and is now considering the practicality of carbon credit opportunities and funding.
“One way that companies are able to be more responsible is via solar panel recycling,” explained Mr Lewis. “In doing so, the Extended Producer Responsibility regulations, which came in effect in 2021, must be adhered to. This means that manufacturers, importers and brand owners are accountable for the end-of-life management of their solar panels.
“Not only do we partake in responsible recycling, but we are also looking into asset funding to enhance our portfolio and extend
our physical reach. We are also seriously considering the possibility of implementing a carbon credit scheme to help mitigate our clients’ emissions.”
A reliable partner
While implementing these new solutions, Meridian Energy has remained true to its customer-centric approach. In recent years, the company has built up a solid reputation as a preferred EPC partner for several major clients within the food and retail markets. The company has also developed a strong alliance with leading OEM providers.
“Meridian Energy has recently received recognition from Huawei, as well as EUPD, for making a significant contribution to the energy transition in South Africa, which we are very proud of,” shared Mr van Aarde.
“We have never been a company that chases down accolades, but it was nice to be recognised with these awards,” added Mr Lewis. “Not only was it a fun experience, and a real motivator for our team, but it also helped put our name out there.”
As the company looks to the future, it intends to continue expanding its physical presence with the help of its long-standing partners, all while producing the same excellent quality it is renowned for.
“Our commitment to high-quality outcomes and solutions inspires everything we do,” said Mr van Aarde. “It has guided us toward initiating the ISO accreditation process
in 2025 and has been instrumental in shaping our customer journey, standardising operating procedures and making significant investments in team training and development.
“We have already grown significantly over the last five years, and with this year’s revenue expected to match last year’s in half the time, we are on track to achieve great things. In the end, our project delivery and services speak for themselves. By consistently delivering world-class quality, we not only meet customer expectations – we set new standards. And as we continue to raise the bar, our brand will become synonymous with excellence.”
