SolarAfrica has reached a major milestone with the financial close of the first 114 MW phase of its flagship SunCentral solar project in South Africa, with funding support from Investec and RMB.
This R1.8 billion investment marks the official launch of the large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plant located between Hanover and De Aar in Northern Cape.
The SunCentral project will be rolled out in three phases, with Phase 1 consisting of 342 MW spread across three 114 MW facilities. The project aims to deliver renewable energy to a broad range of off-takers via South Africa's power grid. Phases 2 and 3 will expand the total capacity to 1 GW.
What sets SunCentral apart is its one-to-many wheeling approach, which will allow multiple businesses across South Africa to access renewable energy, as opposed to the typical one-to-one wheeling system seen in similar projects.
Charl Alheit, SolarAfrica’s Chief Investment Officer, emphasizes the significance of this financial close, noting the project’s potential to unlock cheaper and greener energy for businesses. He also highlights the project’s role in advancing South Africa's energy transition.
SunCentral will serve as a model for other off-site generation projects in Africa, particularly for the commercial and industrial sectors, and is expected to play a key role in expanding clean energy adoption across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Paul van Zijl, Group CEO of Starsight Energy Africa Group, sees the project as a vital step in advancing Africa’s clean energy future. The backing of top investors like African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) and Helios Investment Partners further strengthens the project’s credibility and scalability.
Thor Corry, Investment Director at AIIM, underscores the importance of SunCentral's modular approach, which will help meet the demand for reliable, cost-effective renewable energy in South Africa. Given the country’s need for 30 GW of new capacity by 2030, projects like SunCentral are crucial to meeting both energy needs and climate goals.
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