DeVilliers Botha, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Solareff (Pty) Ltd

Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Solareff (Pty) Ltd since 2010.
DeVilliers is involved with SAPVIA as member since 2013 and has served on the following committees / Work Groups on behalf of, or in the interest of SAPVIA:

• Embedded Generation Subcommittee (Vice-Chair) 2014/2015
• SANS 10142 Work Group 2015 – 2017
• PV GreenCard Steering Committee (Chair) 2016/2017
• Grid Access Subcommittee (Chair) 2016/2017
• SSEG Work Group Chairperson (2020/2021)

He practised as an Advocate with the Pretoria and Johannesburg Bars for 13 years. His professional legal background has enabled DeVilliers to develop unique and extensive expertise relating to the legal, compliance and financial aspects of energy projects. DeVilliers is currently championing the drive for enabling regulation regarding the current legislation (ERA Schedule II) and represents SAPVIA through SAREC at the BUSA and NEDLAC processes.

DeVilliers regularly presents training on behalf of SAPVIA to enable Municipalities to understand the role of industry in the future of renewable energy. Since 2019 DeVilliers also participates on the Garden Route District Municipality’s Green Energy Forum. He also co-authored the Covid-19 Protocols that SAPVIA distributed during April 2020.

During 2017, Solareff expanded into green mobility through the acquisition of GridCars. Under his Directorship, GridCars has successfully installed South Africa’s most extensive EV charging network. His passion for Green Living is evident in his lifestyle – not only is he driving the “bigger picture” for industry, but his home is powered via a Solar PV system and he charges his EV from the Sun as much as possible – proving that living the Green Lifestyle is not a distant dream but rather is a current reality in South Africa. “Disruption is only disruptive to those that are slow to embrace change”.

Oliver Johnston, Founder and Managing Director of SOLINK

Oliver has over a decade of experience in the renewable energy sector in South Africa and is the founder and Managing Director of SOLINK, a specialized renewable energy consultancy that fast tracks the deployment of renewable energy and energy storage projects in Africa.

Oliver has experience across the full development cycle of solar PV projects, from origination to commercial operations. Oliver has a deep understanding of both utility-scale and embedded solar systems, and has worked on over 315MW of awarded utility-scale PV projects and successfully developed over 45 MW of embedded solar systems for clients across RSA on both financed and outright purchased cases. Prior to founding SOLINK Oliver worked for the SOLA Group for 6 years. He holds an MSc Eng in Energy Studies.”