Agri-Voltaic Grow House in Klapmuts Doubles Land Use and Cuts Power Costs

In Klapmuts, Western Cape, Greyton Electrical built a groundbreaking Agri-Voltaic Grow House that costs about the same as a traditional grow house but delivers far more: solar power, climate control, and faster plant growth.

This is the very first Agri-Voltaic Grow House in the area. Greyton Electrical designed it to provide a power-saving solution while maximizing land use. They installed 60 kilowatts of PV to create the roof, using lightweight aluminum for the structure. Underneath the solar canopy, plant cuttings grow while receiving natural light through the glass-on-glass panels. A wet wall and extraction fan system maintain optimal temperatures between 25°C and 27°C, ensuring consistent growing conditions. As Gideon explains, “It doesn’t get any greener than this.”

The Solar Power System Includes:

• 2 Fox ESS inverters in parallel
• 12 EP10 batteries providing more than 120 kWh of storage
• 60 kW of PV

Key Benefits of This Agri-Voltaic Grow House:

• Generates its own power, saving around R40,000 of the R50,000 monthly electricity bill.
• Enables plants to grow underneath the solar panels, doubling land use.
• Accelerates plant growth by providing optimal light and temperature conditions — cuttings grow up to four times faster than in traditional grow houses.

Beyond energy savings and faster plant growth, this system showcases how solar integration can improve operational efficiency and sustainability for agricultural businesses. By reducing dependence on the grid and lowering energy costs, farmers can reinvest savings into expansion, new crop varieties, or additional renewable projects.

This project also provides an important case study for the industry, demonstrating the practicality of combining agriculture with advanced solar technology. It highlights how renewable energy can directly support production, improve resource use, and reduce environmental impact.

Greyton Electrical’s work on this Agri-Voltaic Grow House proves that solar-powered agriculture is not only feasible but highly beneficial. Robusta Wholesale Growers plan to roll out additional structures like this, setting a new benchmark for sustainable farming practices in the region.

Let’s Out Fox Eskom with Greyton Electrical Contractors!