https://techcentral.co.za/the-free-state-mielie-fields-now-powering-corporate-south-africa/273427/
Sola Group on Tuesday launched the 195 megawatt-peak (MWp) Springbok solar power project in Virginia in the Free State. The renewable energy company said the pioneering flexible multi-buyer platform allows South African corporate buyers to buy clean energy from a single source. The solar project also features South Africa’s first operational virtual wheeling power purchase agreement, with Vodacom. (Clients include Amazon, Vodacom, Sibanye-Stillwater, Sasol, Afrimat, Redefine, Old Mutual, Rio Tinto and BRM Brands)
This mechanism allows companies to purchase renewable energy from an off-site facility, like the Virginia solar farm, and offset its electricity consumption through a financial arrangement, without needing a direct physical link.“The project engages multiple buyers on a flexible bilateral basis without the additional costs of a trading entity. This model is crucial for accelerating the private sector’s energy transition and managing risk across the grid,” Sola Group said in a statement.
The facility will generate some 430GWh of clean energy annually, which is enough to power around 150 000 households. It will offset an estimated 399 000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, which is equivalent to planting 6.5 million trees, Sola Group said.
Blueprint
“The Springbok solar power project provides a blueprint for the future of large-scale, private energy in South Africa,” said Sola commercial division MD Jonathan Skeen in a statement.
“By integrating multiple buyers with diverse contracting needs, we are demonstrating that renewable energy can be delivered reliably, flexibly, and at the necessary scale to support economic growth and decarbonisation goals.”
The next phase of the project will see the introduction of co-located battery energy storage system (Bess) capacity.
And, according to the newly released 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which maps out the country’s future energy mix, renewables, gas and nuclear will supply more power to the country than coal by 2039.
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Sola Group on Tuesday launched the 195 megawatt-peak (MWp) Springbok solar power project in Virginia in the Free State.
The post Free State mielie fields now powering corporate South Africa appeared first on The Home Of Great South African News. Read More
