editorial | Multinationals choosing South Africa
10 multinationals choosing South Africa By Fiona Wakelin
area of 20 hectares. The solar panels track the sun throughout the day, absorbing solar energy from the sky and reflected light from the ground. The design will result in avoiding an estimated 25 000 tons of carbon emissions annually, the equivalent of removing 5 400 cars from the road in South Af rica. “Amazon is committed to working with governments and utility suppliers around the world to help bring more renewable energy projects online,” said 1. Amazon
carbon emission to zero will have a big
Nat Sahlstrom, Director of Energy at
Amazon, founded by billionaire Jeff
impact. We want to reach net-zero
Amazon Web Services.
Bezos, is one of the world’s largest
carbon emissions by 2040, a decade
tech companies – in 1 year, US sellers
ahead of the Paris Climate Agreement,
“We’re honoured to work with the
have sold more than 3.8 billion
and we are on a path to powering
Department of Minerals and Energy,
products, averaging 7 400 products
our operations with 100% renewable
the National Energy Regulator of South
sold every minute.
energy by 2025 as part of our goal to
Af rica, and Eskom to help deliver a
reach net-zero carbon.”
new model for renewable energy
In 2015, Amazon opened its first
generation in South Africa.”
Amazon Web Services (AWS) office in
Amazon’s new 10-megawatt solar plant
Johannesburg “to support the growth
is up and running in the Northern
The solar plant, which contributes to
of the cloud computing business and
Cape. The plant is expected to
South Af rica’s 2030 renewable energy
its rapidly expanding customer base in
generate up to 28 000 megawatt-hours
goals, is majority-owned by black
the country.”
(MWh) of renewable energy per year,
women and operated by a fully South
which equals the annual electricity
Af rican-owned company.
Africa (Cape Town) is the 23rd AWS
consumption of over 8 000 average
Region, and the first one in Af rica.
South Af rican homes.
Amazon’s Climate Pledge
The solar plant consists of over
in Johannesburg in 2015, looking to
“We believe we have an obligation to
24 000 bifacial solar panels - capturing
grow markets, not only here, but in
stop climate change, and reducing
sunlight on both sides - covering an
Kenya and Nigeria.
2. Facebook Facebook opened its first headquarters
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