SolarAfrica has energised SunCentral 1, the first 114 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) facility in the initial phase of its utility-scale wheeling development between Hanover and De Aar in the Northern Cape.
The associated 400/132 kV Aquila main transmission substation has also been completed and incorporated into the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) network.
The substation has an initial transformation capacity of 500 MVA and provision for future expansion to approximately 2 GVA, according to the NTCSA. SolarAfrica says it invested R1,35 billion in the facility, which connects SunCentral to the national transmission grid.
Commercial operation of SunCentral 1 is expected to begin in the coming weeks with electricity supply and customer billing scheduled to start during the fourth quarter of 2026, SolarAfrica CEO David McDonald said.
“Completing energisation of the initial cluster of SunCentral Phase 1 demonstrates that large-scale wheeling projects can be delivered successfully in South Africa. It represents years of planning and collaboration between the private sector, Eskom, the NTCSA and our project partners,” he said.
SunCentral intends to supply multiple commercial and industrial customers through electricity wheeling. Its first phase comprises three 114 MW solar PV facilities with a combined generation capacity of 342 MW.
SolarAfrica recently reached financial close on SunCentral 3, securing financing for all three facilities in Phase 1. The remaining two facilities are expected to be completed in the coming months, according to the company.
Proconics NewFields engineered and constructed the Aquila substation under the self-build framework.
“The Main Transmission Substation is SolarAfrica’s first greenfield transmission substation delivered under the self-build principle,” said SolarAfrica Chief Delivery Officer Fana Tlhalepe.
SolarAfrica plans to expand SunCentral to as much as 1 GW through subsequent phases. Later phases are expected to incorporate battery energy storage although planned storage capacity and implementation dates have not been disclosed, the company said.
