Truck and trailer body builder Serco says its Cape Town manufacturing facility has been operating fully on solar power during the summer months, generating more electricity than it consumes and feeding the surplus back into the City of Cape Town’s grid.
The development comes as manufacturers across South Africa continue looking for ways to cut electricity costs and shield operations from power disruptions.
Serco, which builds truck bodies and trailers for fleets across the country, installed the solar system at its Cape Town plant at the end of 2023. The installation was recently expanded, and the company received approval to operate as a grid-tied generator, allowing excess electricity to be exported back into the municipal network.
According to the company, the facility has been producing more energy than it draws from the grid since October last year. Between October 2025 and February 2026, the plant generated an average monthly surplus of about 7,008 kWh.
Serco CEO Clinton Holcroft said the milestone reflects the company’s shift towards cleaner energy and more stable power supply for manufacturing operations.
“Businesses play a critical role in addressing environmental challenges. Our adoption of solar power reflects our dedication to responsible manufacturing and our commitment to the planet,” Holcroft said.
South African manufacturers, including those supplying the transport and logistics sector, have increasingly turned to solar power in recent years as electricity tariffs rise and power reliability remains a concern.
For truck body builders and trailer manufacturers, stable electricity supply is essential to maintain production schedules, particularly in facilities running heavy equipment such as welding, cutting and fabrication machinery.
Serco said its investment in renewable energy is not limited to Cape Town. The company has also installed solar systems at its Durban and Johannesburg operations to supplement power needs at those facilities.
While the Cape Town plant’s solar system currently covers its full summer electricity demand, the company said the project forms part of a broader long-term strategy to reduce dependence on grid power across its manufacturing operations.
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