Renewable energy group JUWI Renewable Energies has taken over the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the 85 MW De Aar 1 solar farm, which is located 500 km north of the coastal city of Port Elizabeth in South Africa.

The solar farm, the third largest under management by JUWI in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (Emea) region, was developed under Bid Window 1 of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

It was commissioned for the South African grid in 2014 as Solar Capital De Aar 1 and was the largest solar project in that bid window.

"Renewable energy forms the backbone of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s energy crisis plan, and we’re committed to doing our part in providing the country with clean and renewable electricity, through the O&M of De Aar 1 and other JUWI utility-scale projects.

“Our goal is to operate De Aar 1 with the highest reliability and energy yield for the national grid. We’re honoured to have been entrusted with this critically important solar site; the award confirms our competence, dedication and commitment to providing O&M services that ensure that the grid in South Africa is provided with reliable renewable electricity,” says JUWI Emea O&M head Christos Charalampidis.

The De Aar 1 project adds to the JUWI South Africa portfolio of 400 MW installed solar, wind and hybrid renewable projects under operational management, and 5.5 GW globally.

With the acquisition of the De Aar 1 solar farm, JUWI increased its operational management portfolio in the Emea region to over 500 MW. This is the second third-party O&M facility that has been awarded to JUWI.

“JUWI is now expanding its focus, which historically centred on government procurement of utility-scale projects, such as those under the REIPPPP, to include the development and building of solar PV and hybrid energy solutions for mines and other energy-intensive users in Africa.

“Hybrid solutions include energy storage, which is essential to achieving energy resilience and reliability on the continent. We have a number of leading projects close to commission and in development,” says JUWI South Africa MD Richard Doyle.