The SOLA Group has announced the successful and early commercial operations date (COD) for Springbok Solar Power Project, Africa’s first multi-buyer, flexible energy wheeling facility and the company’s most significant project to date. The 195-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) facility was delivered ahead of schedule and is a breakthrough for large-scale renewable energy procurement on the continent. The facility has pioneered the flexible multi-buyer platform model for large-scale solar PV in the region and is currently the only facility of its kind that’s operational in Africa. This project represents an important step in modernising South Africa’s grid infrastructure while creating a model for future development and demonstrates how innovative approaches can accelerate grid modernisation.

This is the fourth large scale private wheeling project SOLA Group has brought to commercial operation bringing its total operational portfolio to 464 MWp, the largest for operational private power contracts in South Africa.

Key highlights:

The facility offers both long term maximum savings and rolling PPAs with flexible contracting, a new market offering that allows for shorter-term, scalable agreements to existing buyers mixed with the longer-term contracts.

• The model is pioneering, allowing for multiple corporates to procure from one plant with flexible contract lengths and is the first multi-buyer operational project with a short-term contract option.
• The country’s first virtual wheeling power purchase agreement (PPA)
• Anchor Buyer – Amazon - Amazon served as the anchor buyer whose long-term commitment was instrumental in unlocking financing and enabling the project to move forward.
• Beyond Amazon, the 195MW facility has contracted with significant partners including Sibanye-Stillwater, Sasol, Afrimat, Redefine, Old Mutual and Vodacom.
• One of Africa’s first multi-buyer virtual wheeling solar PV facilities has achieved its COD ahead of schedule, cementing SOLA Group’s reputation for delivering projects within budget and on time.
• The impact of the facility includes R375 million invested in local communities and employment opportunities for 500 permanent and part-time employees to date alongside offsetting 399,000 tonnes of CO₂. This demonstrates the significant impact of bringing new renewable energy capacity to South Africa’s grid. This project helps accelerate the country’s transition away from carbon-intensive power sources while providing a model for future development.

The utility-scale solar PV facility is specifically designed for multiple private corporate clients and is considered a breakthrough for the multi-buyer model in the African energy landscape. Traditionally, energy wheeling plants have been enabled by a single private offtake so Springbok Solar Power Project breaks new ground by introducing a model that combines long-term anchor contracts with buyers including Amazon and Sibanye-Stillwater, with a range of shorter-term, flexible agreements with a further seven companies. This innovation results in more client choice and optionality depending on their current business outlook. This structure enables more organisations to participate in the renewable energy market, creating a more resilient and diverse energy ecosystem.

Additional buyers include Rio Tinto, Redefine, Old Mutual, Vodacom, Sasol, Afrimat and BRM Brands. Together they represent a cross-section of South Africa’s most prominent sectors from mining to telecoms to finance.

James Hickman, AWS Country manager, South Africa, said: "As part of our commitment to being net-zero carbon by 2040, AWS is proud to support innovative renewable energy projects like Springbok Solar Power Project. This collaboration not only advances our sustainability goals but also helps pioneer new models for corporate renewable energy procurement in Africa. The multi-buyer approach demonstrates how cloud and sustainability can work together to create scalable solutions for businesses of all sizes."

Richard Stewart, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater, stated: “Achieving commercial operation of the Springbok Solar Power Project is another milestone in our journey to energy independence and decarbonisation. This is the second project to achieve commercial operation in our 407MW portfolio of contracted renewable energy projects, contributing to our goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. We would like to thank our partners at SOLA Group for effectively managing the construction and start-up, securing our offtake.”

The project will also deliver the country’s first virtual wheeling power purchase agreement (PPA) with Vodacom which is a key innovation in how companies on Eskom low voltage power networks and in municipal-connected areas can access renewable energy.  This opens the way for buyers which did not previously have access to cost effective bulk clean energy and had already saturated their on-site generation opportunities. In addition, the project has allocated power to sell to the SAPP (Southern African Power Pool) market which it intends delivering in October 2025. This power will help pave the way for more energy supply to South Africa’s neighbouring countries currently facing large and costly energy deficits.

At full capacity, the SOLA Group’s Springbok Solar Power Project will generate ~430 GWh annually, enough to power 150,000 homes; offset ~399,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year (which is the equivalent to planting 6.5 million trees). This commitment to sustainability and shared value is also reflected in how extensively the project has supported and enhanced local communities. More than R375 million has been invested into nearby communities and the project workforce, with 100% of workers drawn locally and 49 % of the workforce classified as youth.

SOLA’s community investment programmes are designed to create lasting impact where its projects are based. Through the Sports Against Crime initiative, tournaments with local schools provide young people with safe, structured activities that encourage healthy living, build confidence and strengthen resilience, while also steering them away from negative influences. At the same time, the sewing and fashion programme in Matjhabeng Municipality has given unemployed learners an opportunity to build a livelihood. In 2024, 47 participants graduated with recognised qualifications, and each received their own sewing machine, equipping them with the skills and tools to start their own businesses or secure employment in the textile sector. SOLA intends to continue to support and fund local community initiatives in the area during the operational phase of the project.

“Springbok Solar Power Project cements our role as South Africa’s pioneering wheeling IPP, offering a range of long- and short-term products to our clients,” says Jonathan Skeen, Managing Director at SOLA Group. “Our collaboration with Amazon has been instrumental in enabling South Africa’s first wheeling project in 2020 and now Springbok, Africa’s first multi-buyer virtual wheeling facility. Delivered ahead of schedule, Springbok demonstrates that renewable energy can be provided reliably, flexibly and at scale.”

Sarushen Pillay, Sasol Executive Vice President: Business Building, Strategy and Technology, said; “We are delighted to have secured the opportunity with SOLA Group for additional green electrons. While also contributing renewable energy to our operations, this initiative contributes to our objective to unlock cost savings in our business.”

The launch of Springbok Solar Power Project comes as renewable energy continues to accelerate worldwide. In 2023, renewables accounted for 29.9% of global electricity generation and today that number has risen to approximately 32-36%. By combining scale, innovation and community impact, Springbok demonstrates how South African companies can meet their decarbonisation targets while helping to strengthen the country’s energy security.

The project was constructed in a joint venture between SOLA Group and WHBO with funding secured from RMB, Investec, ABSA, Revego and Ubuzwe. Springbok is a strategic success story, strengthening wheeling as a model for future large-scale projects globally and laying the groundwork for virtual wheeling and market reforms.

The SOLA Group is looking to build on this innovation in its next large scale utility projects due to break ground in 2026. These projects are designed to include significant BESS capacity which when blended with solar is more cost effective than wind and can be used to reliably offset expensive peak power.