Telkom is planning to build a 3MVA photovoltaic plant as part of its Centralized Energy Centre Project at Telkom Park in Centurion.

In a tender bulletin published on 17 August, Telkom requests responses from service providers to design, supply, and install the photovoltaic plant.

Telkom spokesperson Jacqui O’Sullivan told MyBroadband that they are placing solar panels in their parking area with the long-term objective of producing almost all of their own electricity.

Green energy is nothing new for the company. In 2009, Telkom said environmental sustainability was core to its business.

Telkom’s Cybernest was also named the winner of the 2011 South Africa Green Excellence in Technology Innovation Award in the Data Centre Market.

The judges praised Cybernest for saving 4.7kWh of power per year, which was the highest energy saving in the data centre market.