Solar Heat, a solar water heater products and services provider has launched one of the largest such installations at the change houses of the Anglo Platinum Brakfontein shaft.

The solar heated water is estimated to help save the shaft 421.54 MWh a year. The change houses accommodate over 1500 miners and officials and have a capacity of 42 000 litres.

The solar system pre-feeds a 28 000 litre conventional system with electrical backup. Overall, the solar system is big enough to provide hot water for a full day, with the backup system being designed to heat the required amount of water between shifts in the event of bad weather.

Reported by Engineering News