Name of the Project
Springbok solar PV plant.

Location
Virginia, Free State, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Independent power producer SOLA Group and WBHO.

Project Description
The project involves the construction of a pioneering 195 MW solar PV plant. 

SOLA will wheel and sell clean electricity across the country to multiple buyers across South Africa to decarbonise their operations.

The main equipment consists of: 44 613 tracker foundations; 3 114 tracker rows; 336 114 PV modules; and 40 inverter transformer stations.

The project is expected to generate more than 430 000 MWh/y of renewable electricity – enough to supply about 150 000 households – while avoiding nearly 400 000 t/y of CO₂ emissions.

Anchor buyers include Amazon Web Services and Sibanye-Stillwater, alongside Sasol, Afrimat, Redefine, Old Mutual, Vodacom, Rio Tinto, BRM Brands and others. Vodacom is also pioneering South Africa’s first operational virtual wheeling power purchase agreements (PPAs) through the facility, setting a precedent for municipal-level energy procurement.

Potential Job Creation
The project has created about 500 permanent and part-time jobs, with SOLA pledging continued social investment during operations.

Capital Expenditure
More than R3-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
The project entered early commercial operation in October 2025.

Latest Developments
The project has entered early commercial operation, marking a milestone for large-scale private renewable-energy procurement in South Africa.

The project enables a diverse group of corporate buyers to secure clean power from a single source, with electricity wheeled across Eskom’s transmission network under long-term and rolling short-term PPAs.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
WBHO Construction (contractor); SOLA Build (contractor); ABLON Construction (contractor); Trina Solar (equipment supplier); NEXTRACKER (equipment supplier); and SUNGROW (equipment supplier).

Contact Details for Project Information
SOLA Group, tel +27 21 421 9764 or email info@solagroup.co.za