Growth opportunities for clean energy solutions in an emerging SA market

Growth opportunities

for clean energy solutions in an emerging SA market

With increasing energy prices and a concerted effort by companies to look towards cost-efficient green solutions, STIEBEL ELTRON Southern Africa’s new Managing Director, Ingo Hamann, talks about the strategic vision and growth opportunities for clean energy solutions in an emerging SA market.

What is the STIEBEL ELTRON vision for South Africa?

The further expansion and development of STIEBEL ELTRON Southern Africa Limited signals that we are here to stay. Our goal is clearly defined; as one of the top companies in Europe for building services based on renewables, we want to make a significant contribution to the distribution of highly efficient, electricity-based building service products in South Africa and the surrounding countries. We are focused on positively contributing to the building industry, moving it towards green building and CO2 neutral, or CO2-free housing.

What are the opportunities for STIEBEL ELTRON in South Africa?

The energy transition is a done deal. That is why we rely on future-proof building technology based on electricity – because electricity is the energy source of the future. In contrast to oil and gas, it is not finite, but it is increasingly green and resource efficient. All our products run on electricity. I see the future developments using solar or wind power to drive these products. South Africa has a lot of sunshine, and as I experienced in the Western Cape, a lot of wind as well. With our products we can use this electricity in a smart way.

How can STIEBEL ELTRON’s products contribute to the green building industry locally?

With our 'renewables', our heat pump and ventilation product range, we consistently focus on green, energy-efficient building technology. Our customers benefit from lower operating costs and a high level of convenience. Construction developers can predict operating costs much more reliably and benefit from many more functions that are provided with just one system technology.

As an example, the combination of heating, cooling and hot water preparation – functions that almost every building needs – with good planning are possible at the same time with our products. Just think of an office building that simultaneously has heating on the building side facing away from the sun and cooling on the sunny side. Of course, that doesn't work with oil heating.

Our instantaneous water heaters will play a big role in the years to come. A STIEBEL ELTRON instantaneous water heater does more than heat water. You ask, it delivers, exactly when needed, in precisely the right amount and always at the selected temperature. That’s why we talk about DHW convenience. They are particularly useful in your bathroom or kitchen, where you frequently need a lot of hot water. There will always be enough room for one of our heaters, even in your guest toilet or under the kitchen sink. No matter the volume, consumption or requirements, you will find a match for your individual requirements.

How will the launch of the air ventilation portfolio in 2022 contribute to the green building industry?

Let's get back to CO2 savings. New houses don't just have double-glazed windows. They are more insulated in the walls and roof. But we all know that a lot of moisture is created in the house through human breathing, daily showering and cooking processes. Who would want to ventilate their house several times a day, let alone leave their window open while one is absent? That is why we use our centralised or decentralised ventilation systems with heat recovery in buildings. In addition to the advantages mentioned, you can breathe fresh, filtered air 24/7, save heating costs and protect your investment.

How will STIEBEL ELTRON's expansion locally enable skills development, job creation, and strengthen partnerships and collaboration?

In addition to a strong team that can offer the full STIEBEL ELTRON package, resilient and, above all, long-term partnerships are also required. The expansion of our partner network consists of several steps. The training of specialist companies in the field of heat pumps is one of the most important. A good system can only function if everything, from planning to implementation and subsequent service, is done professionally and consistently. We enable our partners to train their employees according to high standards. We have brilliant trainers here in the country and thanks to the new means of communication, we can also bring in our trainers from Germany. The empowerment of employees and the building of self-confidence in the job can only be achieved through good training. This will then again benefit the general public.

In SA, as we have for a long time, we will work with the local associations. New projects and the use of new products also create jobs. There are so many people who have brilliant ideas in the field of green building technology, and we can help implement them.

What role can STIEBEL ELTRON play to effect positive change towards reducing CO2 emissions locally?

The greatest challenge facing humanity now is climate change, the consequences of which can be felt all over the world. Everyone can do something to stop climate change, be it on a small or large scale. There are great projects and implementations in the field of green technology in SA. We have to work more closely with some in order to drive forward CO2 reduction with our products.

How do STIEBEL ELTRON’s products compare to alternate energy resources being currently touted?

Those who opt for fossil heating technology these days are opting for technology that is being phased out. The green-hydrogen dream is not necessarily efficient either. Of course, the energy transition cannot succeed without green hydrogen, particularly for industry, shipping and air traffic, and decentralised power generation in efficient power plants. Unfortunately, hydrogen does not fall from the sky. The extremely complex production makes it expensive; cautious estimates assume that the costs will be at least three times the current gas price. There is a cheaper, more flexible and convenient alternative – the heat pump.

Industry participants and politicians know that the heat pump is the only product that will prevail in the long term. Let's look at the UK. This is where the change is starting right now, and heat pump technology is being used on a large scale to achieve climate targets. It is more important than ever to

replace the existing energy producers (coal-fired power plants) with sustainable solutions like solar, wind and waterpower. These energy sources can then directly use the electricity they generate in our heat pumps.

Will STIEBEL ELTRON use SA as the hub for its sub-Saharan African market, and if so what will this look like?

Yes, and we will also directly serve the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia, Mozambique, and Mauritius. We already have strong long-term partnerships in many of these countries and are working on a variety of projects.

With STIEBEL ELTRON South Africa as the hub, we can deliver faster support and service to our clients. These days, transport and logistics is not a simple task. Container ship transport is taking longer and longer. By having a transport and logistics hub in Johannesburg, we can serve all our clients more rapidly than ever before. We also foresee a lot of opportunity for new partnerships to expand the network. 

Ingo Hamann, STIEBEL ELTRON Southern Africa Managing Director

Managing Director, Ingo Hamann, has been with STIEBEL ELTRON for over 15 years and was previously based in Germany and China. He has a technical background, and qualifications as well as experience in economics, energy electronics and electrical engineering. Passionate about the environment, he notes that climate change is not just a change but is in fact a crisis.

“The world is changing and there is an opportunity for us to do better with new technological advancements. It is critically important for me to help drive responsible development from a clean energy perspective; and with this new position in South Africa, I together with my team, will be actively pursuing partnerships and collaborations to bring about clean energy solutions with premium product/ service offerings to the market,” he says.

STIEBEL ELTRON

Founded in 1924, STIEBEL ELTRON is a market leader in the supply of technologies products for building services and green tech. It operates internationally with seven production facilities, 26 sales companies and sales agencies in over 120 countries. Driven by innovation, STIEBEL ELTRON focuses on efficiencies that are green for heating, cooling and ventilation.

STIEBEL ELTRON South Africa is currently based in Sandton, Gauteng, with aims to expand nationally. Product and solutions offerings include: • Renewables: heat pump; system cylinders; controller/energy management; ventilation; DHW heat

pumps • Hot water: instantaneous water heater; small water heaters; wall and floor mounted geysers; water boilers/automatic water heaters; water filter • Central heating: electrical heaters

For more information, please visit: www.stiebel-eltron.co.za

A STIEBEL ELTRON

instantaneous water heater does more than heat water

You ask, it delivers exactly when needed, in precisely the right amount and always at the selected temperature. That’s why we talk about DHW convenience. And why we call our premium appliances comfort instantaneous water heaters.

What are the advantages of STIEBEL ELTRON's decentralised instantaneous water heaters over centralised DHW systems?

Solutions for efficient DHW heating are differentiated into centralised and decentralised concepts. Centralised DHW solutions are mostly DHW cylinders that are heated by the central heating system, or a geyser. In this case, reasonable efficiency levels dissipate through long supply lines. The actual energy efficiency of the system usually only comes to light in the end-of-year bill. This is because many cost factors, such as DHW circulation in ring mains, cylinder losses, standby energy losses and distribution losses result in high energy consumption.

Such factors are seldom recognised as DHW costs. If these hidden costs are also taken into account, then STIEBEL ELTRON's decentralised electric DHW heating systems are often more economical than centralised systems. This has been verified by various different studies and has been proven by thousands of installation around the world.

STIEBEL ELTRON electric instantaneous water heaters are energy efficient and environmentally responsible and offer many benefits, if planned in the right way.

1. Close to the point of use installation

DHW heating appliances are fitted precisely where they are required: at the kitchen sink, at the washbasin, in the bathroom.

2. Energy saving

Short pipe runs, due to installation directly on site, ensures that heat loss is reduced to a minimum. This saves energy and protects the environment.

3. Water saving

Short pipe runs also means that there is no cooled water in the supply line, which needs to run off unused when hot water is drawn. If it is drawn directly at the source, no precious water is lost.

4. Easy to fit

Our DHW appliances for decentralised DHW provision are quick and easy to install – even when replacing older appliances. This limits expenditure and saves time.

5. Accurate billing

In apartment buildings, the possibility of accurate individual billing is truly appreciated. Everyone pays for what they use – not a penny more. Discover the STIEBEL ELTRON instantaneous water heater range – a guarantee of exactly the right hot water temperature and the best comfort for you. Thanks to its compact design, the instant water heaters are suitable for the kitchen sink, washbasin, the shower and the bathtub. In commercial settings, it can be used in utility rooms or, for example, supplying multiple hand washbasins in sanitary facilities.

010 001 8547 www.stiebel-eltron.co.za