SolarAfrica has secured $98 million that will facilitate in implementing the first phase of its 1 GW SunCentral solar project. The independent power producer has reached financial close on the first 144MW component of its projects. The company has achieved this alongside its funding partners Investec and RMB. The $98 million investment into SunCentral marks the start of the project’s rollout. SunCentral is a large-scale solar photovoltaic plant located between Hanover and De Aer in the Northern Cape.
The scope of implementation on the project is expected to be developed in three phases. The 342 MW first phase will be delivered through a staged roll-out of three 114 MW facilities. Moreover, the project will deliver renewable energy to various offtakers by wheeling it through South Africa’s power grid. It is also expected that once the second and third phase of the project are complete, SunCentral’s capacity will increase to 1 GW.
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Project Summary:
Location: South Africa
Capacity: 1 GW
Phase of Implementation: First phase
Cost of Project: US$98 Million
The Uniqueness of SolarAfrica’s SunCentral Solar Project
The uniqueness of SolarAfrica’s SunCentral solar project lies in its wheeling capabilities. Unlike similarly sized projects that offer wheeling on a one-to-one basis, this project is different. Most project achieve the one-to-one basis with one generation plant supplying one offtaker. However, SolarAfrica has noted that this project will offer wheeling on a one-to-many basis. Through this, it will ensure availability to a wider pool of businesses in South Africa. “Reaching financial close on the first 114 MW of our utility-scale wheeling development marks a significant milestone,” noted SolarAfrica’s CIO, Charl Alheit.
Furthermore, he noted that this feat marks the company’s commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions to its customers. The substantial size of SunCentral will unlock access to cheaper, greener power for even more businesses across the country. SolarAfrica is part of the greater Starsight Energy Africa Group. The South African-based company is confident that the success of SunCentral will act as a blueprint for similar and smaller offsite generation projects. These includes off-site generation projects in other African markets in which the Starsight Energy Africa Group companies operate.
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