Solar for Agriculture
Protect your product and profits.
Grant‑backed, turnkey solar power for agriculture ‑ engineered, facilitated, and installed by Gentricity
Gentricity addresses critical challenges facing South African farmers. Rising energy costs and unreliable electricity supply threaten their operational stability and profitability, especially since their end products depend heavily on climate control systems and water supply.
We offer comprehensive services including site audits, system modelling (grid-tied or hybrid), design, installation, and real-time performance monitoring. Additionally, Gentricity simplifies financing by bundling grants and loans and facilitating Land Bank paperwork
This approach enables farmers to adopt solar energy with minimal upfront investment, allowing them to start saving on energy costs immediately while reducing operational risks and enhancing sustainability.
The Agro‑Energy Fund (AEF) is a blended‑finance programme created by the Department of Agriculture and the Land Bank to help farmers fast‑track renewable‑energy projects. It combines a once‑off grant – covering up to 70 % of the system cost – with a prime‑linked loan for the balanced.
Funding tiers are based on annual turnover, making the AEF equally accessible to emerging, growing and large‑scale producers, and the full project cost qualify for Section 12B tax write‑offs – turning solar power into an immediate cash‑flow gain rather than a capital burden.
| Annual Turnover | Grant : Loan Split | Maximum Project Size* |
|---|---|---|
| < R2m | 70 % grant / 30 % loan | R 500 000 |
| < R10 m | 50 % grant / 50 % loan | R 1 000 000 |
| > R10 m | 30 % grant / 70 % loan | R 1 500 000 |
* Gentricity can facilitate larger projects, part funded by the AEF as per above.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Total CAPEX | R 1 500 000 |
| AEF grant | R 450 000 |
| AEF loan (60 m @ prime) | R 1 050 000 |
| Year‑1 energy saving (tariff R1,80 /kWh) | R 393 120 |
| Year‑1 loan repayment | R 273 955 |
| Net cash saving Y1 | R 119 165 |
| Section 12B tax benefit | R 283 500 |
| Positive cash flow Y1 | ≈ R 850 000 (grant + tax + savings) |
| Simple payback | < 3 ½ years |
Book a free solar suitability survey.
We prepare:
Install and commission in as little as 8 weeks post final approval.
Gentricity Solar Energy Solutions.
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