TerniEnergia, an Italy-based renewable energy company, has signed a multi-year contract with Avanti Communications, a leading provider of satellite data communications services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
TerniEnergia, part of Italeaf Group, is the first Italian smart energy company operating in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The company will use Avanti’s Ka-band satellite technology to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to its “giant” photovoltaic[1] renewable energy plants located in Paleisheuwel and Tom Burke in South Africa[2], which are under construction for a primary Italian utility. The satellite service is provided via a VPN (virtual private network) ensuring IP traffic remains secure and encrypted from end to end.
Deployed via Avanti’s HYLAS 2 satellite, with 100% coverage of South Africa, high speed internet connectivity will facilitate the vital data exchange between TerniEnergia’s plants, whilst providing operational support and remote reporting capability.
Matthew O’Connor, Chief Operating Officer at Avanti Communications, commented: “We welcome TerniEnergia’s choice to connect its energy plants with Avanti’s high speed broadband. The quality and flexibility of our satellite network will drive efficiencies between TerniEnergia’s plants. This will increase their ability to supply energy throughout some of the remotest regions in South Africa.”
Sergio Agosta, Chief Executive Officer at TerniEnergia, commented: “Connecting our power plants is a crucial move for TerniEnergia in addressing the major energy and infrastructure challenges in South Africa. The power crisis requires us to work fast to deliver to ever-increasing demand for renewable and sustainable energy supply. Avanti’s high speed and reliable broadband will enable us to drive efficiencies across our sites and accelerate our delivery of energy across South Africa.”
[1] Photovoltaics (PV) is the name of a method of converting solar energy into direct current electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon commonly studied in physics, photochemistry and electrochemistry.
[2] The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates 585 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity, with the electrification rate as low as 14.2% in rural areas.
