Springbok facility pioneers multi-buyer renewable energy platforms
VIRGINIA, FREE STATE – The Sola Group has announced the achievement of an early commercial operations date for its R3 billion, 195 Megawatt peak (MWp)Springbok Solar Power Project in Virginia. This marks the beginning of what the company describes as Africa’s largest private solar and storage rollout.
The facility represents Africa’s first true multi-buyer, flexible energy project. It constitutes one of the continent’s largest corporate renewable developments, demonstrating the viability of large-scale renewable energy solutions for major corporate buyers.
Market-leading portfolio
Delivered ahead of schedule, the Springbok project significantly increases Sola’s operational portfolio to 464 MWp, establishing it as South Africa’s largest operational provider of private power contracts.
The project pioneers a flexible multi-buyer platform, enabling a cross-section of major South African corporate buyers to procure clean energy from a single source. The power will be wheeled across the Eskom network to serve multiple off-takers under long and short-term rolling power purchase agreements (PPA).
Major corporate participation
Anchor buyers Amazon and Sibanye-Stillwater will receive clean energy alongside several additional buyers spanning diverse industries, including Sasol, Afrimat, Redefine, Old Mutual, Vodacom, Rio Tinto and BRM Brands.
The project features South Africa’s first operational virtual wheeling PPA, with Vodacom leveraging the flexible model to source power for its operations, setting a precedent for municipal-level energy procurement.
The 195 MWp facility will generate over 430 000 Megawatt-hour (MWh) of clean energy annually − sufficient to power approximately 150 000 South African households whilst offsetting an estimated 399 000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year, equivalent to planting 6,5 million trees.
Ambitious expansion plans
The Sola Group is building upon this innovation by advancing its next phase of utility-scale projects, introducing significant co-located battery energy storage system capacity.
The upcoming Naos 1 and Nyala solar and storage projects, located in Viljoenskroon and Welkom respectively, are set to deliver 770 MW of generation capacity. These projects will be amongst the largest private solar and battery storage facilities in Africa, designed to provide flexible, firm, and dispatchable power beyond traditional solar energy.
Community investment policy
Sola Group’s commitment to sustainability extends to community investment, with R375 million already invested in nearby communities, creating employment opportunities for around 500 permanent and part-time workers.
The Sports Against Crime initiative provides tournaments with local schools, offering young people safe, structured activities that encourage healthy living whilst steering them away from negative influences.
A highly successful sewing and fashion programme in the Matjhabeng Municipality has enabled unemployed learners to build livelihoods. In 2024, 47 participants graduated with recognised qualifications, each receiving their own sewing machine to start businesses or secure employment in the textile sector.
The project was constructed through a joint venture between Sola Group and WHBO, with funding secured from a consortium including RMB, Investec, ABSA, Revego and Ubuzwe.
Sola intends to continue supporting and funding local community initiatives throughout the project’s operational phase, cementing its position as a catalyst for both renewable energy transition and regional development.
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