The Soventix De Aar 1 GW Solar Project has officially moved into its next critical phase following the issuance of the Eskom Budget Quote, signaling that the massive Northern Cape installation is cleared for grid integration. Originally conceptualized for the REIPPPP, the project is being co-developed alongside SolarAfrica and stands as a pioneer for large-scale private power, utilizing the Eskom 400 kV Transmission network to stabilize the regional grid. Construction is slated to advance throughout 2026, incorporating an innovative agrivoltaic component that integrates sheep farming with single-axis tracking technology to preserve local agricultural utility.

This momentum in the Northern Cape mirrors the recent success of the Middlepunt Solar PV project, which achieved financial close on April 14, 2026. While Soventix scales to 1 GW in De Aar, the 337 MW Middlepunt facility in the Free State made history this month as the first Bid Window 7 project to reach financial close, securing a record-low tariff of ZAR 458/MWh. Together, these developments represent a dual-track surge in South Africa’s energy transition, with De Aar proving the viability of gigawatt-scale private infrastructure while Middlepunt sets a new benchmark for cost-competitive public procurement.

November 30, 2023

Eskom Greenlights German developer, Soventix for the construction of a 1 Gigawatt solar project set to be developed in De Aar, in South Africa. This will be among the first large projects that will be interconnected into South African national grid, which is owned by state.

“The scope and planning of this project will pave the way for other developers and IPPs to connect projects of this size to the network in the future,” said Soventix.

It is a project from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s South African Renewable Energy IPP Procurement (REIPPP).
The firm broke up the building project into three phases due to logistical concerns. Back in July 2022, the first stage rights of the project were sold to a South African company by the name Solar Africa that might end up selling off the operational or sell green-electricity certificates.

Commencement date for the first phase 1 Gigawatt Solar Project in De Aar, in South Africa

Soventix said in a statement that construction of the first 342 MW phase of the project will begin from the first quarter of 2024.

The development of phases two and three by Soventix will see the project being fully completed at 1GW. In other words,, the company  is developing agrivoltaic tests in during different phases for collecting data.

Single axis solar tracker technology has been used in building the De Aar power plant.  Souventix has indicated that it will do its best to see whether there are some prospects to integrate the construction of solar field and shepherding, which is the most common kind of agriculture in this area, Soventix also plans to evaluate some further opportunities.

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