About Us

SUSTAINABILITY AS A SERVICE

Energy Drive partners with companies from a range of major industries to actualise their energy-related sustainability goals. Using variable speed drives to reduce our clients’ energy consumption and achieve more efficient operations, we also lower energy-related business costs. We achieve this by overcoming the key hurdles to energy optimisation by taking on the risk and staying invested with our clients for the long term. By purchasing the required equipment, installing it, and ensuring that it runs effectively for as long as it’s on a client’s site, we have founded an innovative, fully-engineered, turnkey sustainability solution executed via a zero-capex performance contract.

THE THREE KEY HURDLES TO ENERGY OPTIMISATION

RESOURCES

Our turnkey energy-saving solution includes design, project management, installation and maintenance all delivered via a zero-capex performance contract, meaning you can continue to focus on your business operations while we finance and execute the project.

PLANT

DOWNTIME

Every system is installed with a fully motorised bypass, meaning that if a VSD were to fail the electrical supply system is reconfigured, quickly allowing the motor to revert to the original electrical supply and control system. Once the fault has been rectified, the system can be changed back to VSD control. In most cases, the bypass system can happen quickly enough to avoid production down time.

MEASUREMENT

AND VERIFICATION

Each Energy Drive system is monitored for electrical consumption, and system health and performance recorded via a sealed Elster meter. The energy consumption data is sent to an independent third party, meaning the integrity of the data is of the highest standard. This information is available to clients via an access-controlled web page, while the Energy Drive control centre can analyse the data and generate any alerts, ensuring Energy Drive is always aware of the health of every system in the field.

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OUR JOURNEY

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

FEBRUARY 2010

EnergyDrive Systems established.
MAY 2011

First energy-saving solution live at Gelvenor Textiles.
JANUARY 2012

First major contract signed with Dunlop.
MARCH 2012
Formal office opened and staff hired.
OCTOBER 2014

First Medium Voltage (MV) solution goes live (Assmang).
FEBRUARY 2016

Sembcorp UK goes live.
JUNE 2017

Investment of SANA Partners Group in Energy Drive Group.

NOVEMBER 2017

Signing of global contract by Glencore Operations.
OCTOBER 2019

First mine ventilation fan system approval.
Largest single installation at Glencore Lion (10.4MW of VSDs).
NOVEMBER 2019
Rebrand of EnergyDrive Systems to Energy Drive.
South African Energy Efficiency Confederation Award: Energy Company of the Year
11 July 2022

2021

South African Energy Efficiency Confederation Award: Industrial Energy Project of the Year
First UK MV projects launched.
25 July 2022

2022

First EU contracts signed in Romania and Belgium.
In 2022, Energy Drive became a subsidiary of the holding company – Apogee, a UK-based group of solution providers that invest in companies that design and execute innovative, technological solutions to achieve their clients’ sustainability or ESG goals.
11 July 2022

MARCH 2023

Established North American business.

OUR TEAM

OUR TEAM HAS 100+ YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE IN THE ENERGY SAVINGS INDUSTRY.
OUR QUALIFIED ENGINEERS are DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT OUR SERVICES DELIVER THE DESIRED RESULTS.

BOARD MEMBERS

Bernard Sellmeyer

Chairman of Energy Drive Board

BIO

Bernard has a BCom degree, a postgraduate in marketing, and an MBA from the University of Cape Town. Following a successful corporate finance outfit involving deal origination, Bernard founded Sana Partners, a middle-market private equity fund, with partner Nick Hudson in 2016. The purpose was to help solve the equity funding limitations for the many owner-managed businesses in South Africa

Bernard has a young family with two very busy daughters and a baby boy, and he spends his leisure time on the mountain, surfing or enjoying a braai or dinner with his wonderful wife.

James Hynd

GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

BIO

James Hynd began his career doing articles at Deloittes while studying part-time. Thereafter he worked in various roles in the packaging industry, with a career highlight being his involvement in growing Afripack to become a market leader in South Africa. Afripack was sold to the Global Packaging Group, Constantia Flexibles, in 2016. After completing the sale and serving three years in Constantia, James decided he needed a change of industry.

He was attracted to the opportunity of leading the transition of a startup business - Energy Drive, where he now serves as CEO of the Apogee Group, encompassing Energy Drive (South Africa, UK and North America), Water Proof, and Apogee Projects (formerly ICS).

James is a growth-driven individual who understands that growth is only achieved through a highly engaged and passionate team, creating value for all its stakeholders.

Ben Basson

Group Chief Financial Officer

BIO

Ben is a Chartered Accountant (SA) and had completed his B.Acc, B.Compt Honours in Accounting prior to qualifying as a CA(SA) and has subsequently completed his Master of Commerce degree in 2013.

Ben Basson began his career in clothing retail working as an internal manager for Ackermans, followed by a role as Head of Internal Audit for Virgin Active South Africa.

Ben joined Energy Drive in 2018 and is currently the Chief Financial Officer for the Energy Drive Group of Companies. 

Ben brings over a decade of financial management experience in public and private environments (retail and consumer businesses) and has been at the forefront of implementing systems and controls for the expanding group.

Bertha Dlamini

Independent Non-Executive Director

BIO

Ms Dlamini is a highly rated and trusted industry player in South Africa's energy sector. She is the Group CEO of Rito Group of Companies Pty Ltd and the founding president of African Women in Energy and Power (AWEaP), an initiative she founded to accelerate the participation of African Women Entrepreneurs in the full value chain of Power and Energy in Africa.

Ms Dlamini possesses numerous qualifications, among them an MBA in Executive Management, and

holds multiple industry roles, including; Executive Member and Energy Security Lead of BRICS Women Alliance South Africa, advisory board member at Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership, trustee of ABB Education Trust, ERG member of SALGA's Energy Reference Group South Africa, and lead in the Energy Sector Workstream, Women's Economic Assembly in the Office of the President.

REGIONAL OFFICES

Mark Milne

VP - Energy Drive - SA

BIO

Mark Milne began his career in London, working for the likes of Ernst and Young in contract finance roles after studying accounting and theology and completing a Master of Business Dynamics through the Growth Institute.

He progressed to Data Management Director at the marketing agency TMW and then, in 2005, returned to South Africa to open his own business. In 2012, Mark joined Energy Drive, first as a consultant and then full-time, where he currently holds the position of General Manager of South African Operations.

Mark is passionate about finding improved approaches and solutions to business challenges. He believes that applying fresh perspectives and techniques helps businesses evolve and grow.

Mike Ward

VP - Energy Drive - UK & Europe

BIO

Mike Ward holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting and Economics and began his career in banking before moving into a consultant role advising and mentoring start-ups. 

In 2010 he developed the performance-based model that formed the foundation of Energy Drive’s offering, which was officially launched the following year in South Africa.  Mike now leads the group’s European operations, with responsibility for business in the United Kingdom and European Union having moved to London in 2017 with a primary goal of growing the new region.

Mike is a passionate family man who enjoys competing on the sports field most weekends.

James Sharp

VP - Energy Drive - North America

BIO

James Sharp started his career in the finance and lending industry in Johannesburg, South Africa, focusing initially on the capital equipment, technology and energy sectors. James graduated with a BCom in Finance from Stellenbosch University and, in 2020, completed a postgraduate Diploma in business management from Henley Business School.

After being involved in some startup ventures, he joined Energy Drive in 2019 as the Business Development Manager for South Africa. James is now the Global Head of Business Development for the Apogee Group and is responsible primarily for the North American business unit.

James believes in a shared valued approach to business and brings an energetic and motivated approach to business growth.

Apogee Analytics

Ryan Botha

VP - Apogee Analytics

BIO

Ryan began his career as a CAD application specialist, developing 3D graphics and designs to communicate conceptual ideas. In this role, he was exposed to numerous engineering applications requiring highly customized and adaptable solutions.

This motivated Ryan to earn a degree in Information Technology Management and shift his focus from CAD to Data & Analytics. He joined Energy Drive in 2015, where he's been involved in various areas- from providing data analytics insights to the engineering team to designing and overseeing the Fulcrum project as the GM of Analytics.

Ryan is driven by his passion for using technology to simplify tasks to make people's lives easier.

Apogee Projects

Warren Reynolds

VP - Apogee Projects

BIO

After completing his studies in mechanical engineering, Warren began his career at Dunlop Tyres in 2001. After two years on the tools, he moved into various middle management positions before being promoted to Engineering Manager, where he led the department for seven years. During this period, Warren completed qualifications in Six Sigma & ALDP.

While at Dunlop, Warren was a customer of Energy Drive and an advocate for their business model. He proudly joined the team in 2015 and has been responsible for project execution ever since.

As the current GM of Projects, Warren is driven by his passion for creating simple, high-quality engineering solutions.

OUR VALUES

We base our actions on a deeply rooted set of company values, which are:

TRUST

Trust defines and quantifies our relationships within our company and with our clients. We confidently hold each other accountable to act with integrity and character.

PEOPLE-CENTRED

We value and treat people with dignity and respect. Personal perspectives and preferences are always considered as we take time to listen and work in collaborative partnership towards designing and delivering according to our promises.

PROGRESSIVE

We continuously challenge ourselves towards disruptive innovation. We are agile and relentless in our pursuit of ingenious applications to improve the way things are done.

COURAGE

We have the courage to take risks and the resilience to counter challenges with tenacity and perseverance. Our passion drives us.

EXCELLENCE

We are committed to pursuing excellence. Our professionalism reflects in the quality of our people, our product and our service. In everything we do.

ACTUALISE YOUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

About Us

SUSTAINABILITY AS A SERVICE

THE THREE KEY HURDLES TO ENERGY OPTIMISATION

OUR JOURNEY

FEBRUARY 2010

MAY 2011

JANUARY 2012

MARCH 2012

OCTOBER 2014

FEBRUARY 2016

JUNE 2017

NOVEMBER 2017

OCTOBER 2019

NOVEMBER 2019

2021

2022

MARCH 2023