Having access to clean drinking water is something many of us take for granted. Yet, before it reaches our taps, water undergoes rigorous treatment processes to ensure it’s safe for consumption. South Africa’s NCP Chlorchem plays a critical role in this chain, producing chlorine and related chemicals essential for disinfecting and purifying drinking water. NCP supplies chlorine (Cl₂) to disinfect potable water across the SADC region, helping safeguard the health of approximately 100 million people.

The solar plant we’re announcing with NCP today truly embodies our purpose of creating better lives with better energy. It’s a 27 MWp multi-phase solar programme to power NCP’s main production site and is one of the largest behind the-meter industrial solar installations in South Africa.

The NCP facility is classified as a National Key Point, reflecting its strategic role in ensuring the supply of safe, clean water to millions of South Africans. The solar programme will supply a significant share of the site’s electricity demand, with several phases already completed, additional capacity coming online early in 2026, and full completion targeted by the end of 2026.

As South Africa’s essential industries contend with soaring energy costs, an unstable grid and growing pressure to decarbonise, onsite renewables are becoming integral to long-term cost management and operational stability.

NCP’s operations are highly energy-intensive, making long-term energy planning and emissions reduction central to its sustainability strategy. NCP’s solar journey with Terra Firma began in 2023, with a 1.1 MWp pilot implemented under earlier regulatory caps that limited project size.

Following its success, the company expanded to second phase of around 10 MWp combining rooftop, carport and ground-mounted systems, now in the final stages of commissioning. A further 17.5 MWp is under construction, bringing total capacity to 27 MWp.

Integrating a 27 MWp solar system into a live chemical production site demands careful planning and collaboration, with the highest possible safety standards and processes. The success of this project demonstrates how renewables can be delivered effectively within a high-stakes environment and sets a benchmark for secure, compliant industrial decarbonisation.

Here is what leaders from NCP and Terra Firm had to say about the solar installation:

Schalk Venter, Managing Director, NCP Chlorchem: “As a producer of essential chemicals used in water and sanitation, sustainability is central to how we operate. Working with Terra Firma has allowed us to lower our carbon emissions and manage long-term energy costs more effectively. It’s a major step in building a more resilient and sustainable future for our operations.”

Grant Berndsen, Chief Executive Officer, Terra Firma: “As South Africa’s energy transition accelerates, more large energy users in complex industrial sectors are turning to onsite renewable systems to meet their cost and sustainability targets. Supporting a facility as vital as NCP’s, where uninterrupted operations are essential to public health, highlights the importance of getting these projects right.”