About Us
PowerOptimal, founded in 2014, is a leader in sustainable, smart, simple energy solutions, specialising in hot water. Our technology platform is built on proven South African electricity demand management technology, with a strong track record of successful installations over more than 10 years.
Our intellectual property and manufacturing are proudly South African. Our engineers bring over 60 years’ combined experience in light current electrical design and manufacturing.
We have two main product ranges:
Our Elon® solar PV water heating solution allows for direct connection of solar PV (photovoltaic) panels to standard electric water heaters (geysers). Using our proprietary direct current (DC) switching technology, water heating using solar PV is now cost-competitive with solar water heaters and heat pump systems and with much longer lifetimes and minimal maintenance.
PowerGuard® is a demand management solution that can reduce your peak power demand by up to 50%, and reduce your electricity bill by up to 20%.
With our proven technology, track record of successful installations and experienced team we can help you save money and manage your electricity supply limitations whilst reducing your carbon footprint.
Link to PowerOptimal’s Privacy Policy: https://poweroptimal.com/privacy-policy/
Lowest cost per kWh of water heating
Contact PowerOptimal for more information or one of our installation partners for a quote.
The Team
Richard Fearon
Co-founder and CEO
Richard is a successful entrepreneur that has been involved in more than 20 technology start-up and small businesses in various capacities. Richard is passionate about people, marketing and strategic communications, and how these expertise can be used effectively to underpin business development strategies.
Dr. Sean Moolman
Co-founder and COO
Sean has a PhD in Chemical Engineering, Management Advancement Programme from Wits Business School and is a Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP). He has over 20 years of experience in engineering, R&D, product development, management of R&D, IP management and technology commercialisation. Sean is passionate about the Energy Revolution and its potential to change the world.
Johan Theron
Director and CTO
Johan is a light current systems designer, inventor and developer of the PowerGuard® and Elon® technologies. He has over 40 years’ experience in light current systems. Johan has his own successful electronics design and manufacturing business, Crane Electronics CC.
Andrew Goedhart
Systems Architect
Andrew has a BSc (Eng) in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. He has over 25 years of experience in software development, product design and systems engineering. He has worked in both startup and multinational environments and holds international patents in smart grid technology and telecommunications.
Andrew believes that sustainable value is unlocked by following a systems approach and leveraging information in a connected world.
Matt Capes
Business Development Lead
Matt graduated from Stellenbosch University with a BCom Honours in Strategy and Innovation. During his time at Stellenbosch University he became deeply interested in solar energy technologies and has now begun his lifelong journey in this field at PowerOptimal.
Matt is a driven and energetic person and is tenacious in his pursuit of new knowledge. He also loves to work with people and will stop at nothing to help them achieve their next milestone.
James Fearon
Head of Data and CRM
James graduated from Vega School Cape Town with a BBA in Brand Building & Management. A self-described environmentalist with a passion for building brands that make real, measurable impact on earth. Bringing a youthful perspective and energy to the team- ensuring environmental activism and impact are the core values of every decision made at PowerOptimal.
Barry Cooke
Sales Lead
Barry is a practical hands on individual with deep experience ranging from ground level to management responsibility in both SA & Internationally in the following sectors: Electrical installation contracting; Large Scale Data and Telecommunications infrastructure planning and implementation; Regional operational and financial management role – consumer product sales and service centre including connected device solutions. Barry is a certified PV Green Card Installer.
Barry is passionate about people and has a thirst for knowledge in all tech related developments. His love for Technology spills over into his deep roots with music, be that performing live on stage or creating music in the studio.
Prof. Ian Jandrell
Independent Director
Prof. Ian Jandrell is Deputy Vice Chancellor: Systems and Operations at Wits University. He is also a Personal Professor in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at Wits, where he holds the CBI-electric Chair of Lightning.
Ian holds directorships of: Crown Publications, Wits Enterprise, Innopro, Outreach Engineering NPC and the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists. Ian is a trustee of the Accenture Education Trust in South Africa.
