A new 135 MW solar project will power the operations of the African Rainbow Minerals mining company. Provider of smart PV and energy storage solutions, Trina Solar, and locally based company SOLA have partnered to construct the project, called Merak 1.

Trina Solar will supply over 200 000 of its 210mm p-type bifacial Vertex modules to the project. The project is expected to be completed and operational by the end of the year. The construction of the plant will be completed in collaboration with WBHO Construction.

African Rainbow Minerals is a platinum, ferrous, and coal mining company that operates in the Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal.

“This project marks our inaugural foray into utility-scale projects in South Africa,” said Zaheer Khan, Regional Director of Southern Africa at Trina Solar.