South Africa reached a new milestone in renewable energy when the SOLA Group’s 195 MW Springbok solar power project in the Free State announced commercial operations will begin on October 6. This facility marks the start of multi-buyer wheeling allowing several large corporates to source electricity from a single solar plant through long- and short-term power purchase agreements.
The project is Africa’s first operational multi-buyer virtual wheeling platform enabling companies connected to Eskom’s low-voltage and municipal networks to access renewable power, SOLA Group says.
Amazon acted as anchor buyer unlocking project finance alongside offtakers Sibanye-Stillwater, Sasol, Vodacom, Old Mutual, Redefine, Afrimat, Rio Tinto and BRM Brands. At full capacity, the facility will generate approximately 430 GWh per year.
“Springbok demonstrates that renewable energy can be delivered reliably, flexibly and at scale,” said Jonathan Skeen, MD of SOLA Group.
Construction started in 2023 in partnership with WBHO and financing from RMB, Investec, Absa, Revego and Ubuzwe. This is SOLA’s fourth large-scale private wheeling project, bringing its operational portfolio to 464 MWp, the largest of its kind in South Africa, SOLA Group says.
