Durban, South Africa – In a region where environmental responsibility is not just a value but a necessity, South African solar EPC+M company Rhino Energy Solutions, has commissioned a 648 kWp solar plant at Dolphin Coast Landfill Management (DCLM), operated by Veolia. Situated in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, the plant brings clean, reliable energy to one of South Africa’s leading hazardous waste management operations.
Formally opened by the deputy minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and the Mayor of Kwadukuza, the installation, developed alongside DCLM’s advanced Liquid Treatment Plant, represents more than an infrastructure upgrade. It is proof that private capital, technical expertise, and environmental purpose can converge to create lasting impact.
Rogan Davies, CEO of Rhino Energy Solutions, says the project exemplifies what genuine value creation looks like in practice. “The DCLM project is a critical example of how true value creation extends beyond financial returns. The goal was not just a solar project — it was about building infrastructure that protects the environment, conserves precious resources, drives operational efficiency and leaves a positive legacy for future generations.”
DCLM specialises in the management of liquid and solid hazardous waste, playing a critical role in helping South Africa meet its sustainable development goals through careful, responsible resource management. For an organisation whose core mission is environmental stewardship, the move to solar is a natural and meaningful progression.
Engineered for a harsh environment
A hazardous waste landfill is an unforgiving site for any infrastructure project. The corrosive gases and contaminants associated with hazardous waste disposal demanded a mounting solution built to last: Rhino’s engineering team specified a ground-mounted array on 3CR12 stainless steel structures, chosen specifically for their corrosion resistance and ability to support the system’s 25-year design life with minimal maintenance. The 1,080-module array was installed in an east-west configuration, a layout that increases module density on the available land while spreading generation more evenly across the day, aligning solar output with DCLM’s daytime operational demand.
The project also required close coordination with an active industrial facility. Construction was carefully sequenced around DCLM’s operational and safety requirements to minimise disruption, while the electrical integration was designed to meet the site’s existing infrastructure and applicable grid compliance requirements.
The impact, in numbers
Modelled using industry-standard PVsyst simulation, the plant is expected to generate approximately 826 MWh of clean energy annually, at a performance ratio of 79.53%, a strong indicator that the system is designed to perform efficiently under real-world conditions. That output is projected to avoid roughly 778 tonnes of CO? emissions every year, equivalent to taking around 170 passenger vehicles off the road, or the carbon sequestered by close to 12,800 tree seedlings grown over a decade. Over the system’s 25-year design life, that adds up to an estimated 19,450 tonnes of CO? avoided.
By integrating solar generation directly with DCLM’s treatment operations, the project reduces reliance on the grid, improves energy cost predictability, and reinforces the site’s environmental credentials – outcomes that align with both organisations’ long-term commitments to sustainability. Ends
About Rhino Energy Solutions
Rhino Energy Solutions is a South African renewable energy EPC+M (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Maintenance) company with a 19-year track record of delivering solar and battery energy storage systems across the industrial, commercial, agricultural and mining sectors. With a portfolio spanning 87 MWp of installed capacity and clients including blue-chip organisations across Southern Africa, Rhino Energy designs, builds and maintains large-format energy solutions that reduce costs, improve operational resilience and support ESG objectives. For more information, visit rhinoenergy.co.za.
For more information contact: Samantha Hogg-Brandjes | GinjaNinja | +27844584857 | samantha@ginjaninja.co.za
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Author: Samantha Hogg-Brandjes from GinjaNinja PR (PTY) Ltd on behalf of Rhino Energy.
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