A Groundbreaking Achievement for Renewable Energy in South Africa
SOLA Group has made a significant breakthrough in South Africa’s renewable energy journey, achieving its ambitious goal of producing 1 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy by the end of 2025—one month ahead of schedule. By hitting this milestone in December 2024, SOLA has positioned itself as a key player in South Africa’s transition to a more sustainable energy mix.
This 1 billion kWh represents a remarkable contribution to the nation’s power grid, providing enough electricity to meet nearly all of Bloemfontein’s residential demand for a whole year. With most of this electricity being generated in the past few months, the achievement reflects SOLA’s rapid and exponential growth in clean energy production.
How SOLA’s Projects Are Shaping Communities and the Economy
Beyond just the numbers, SOLA’s renewable energy efforts have had a profound impact on local communities. Over the past two years, SOLA has created 1,767 jobs during the construction of its four major projects. Many of these workers have transitioned into long-term positions, which has provided stability and new career opportunities.
SOLA’s impact goes further with an investment of over R462.5 million spent on local goods and services, directly benefiting nearby towns and communities. This has led to a boost in local economic activity and has helped support small businesses. Additionally, SOLA has committed R5.3 million to community development initiatives, working hand-in-hand with host communities and stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of these projects are felt widely.
The Power of Policy Certainty for Renewable Energy
A key factor driving this rapid expansion has been the government’s focus on policy certainty, which has created an environment conducive to private sector growth. According to Katherine Persson, Managing Director of SOLA, the company’s growth trajectory began with a 100 million kWh target set in 2013, which was achieved by 2019. However, it wasn’t until 2021, when President Cyril Ramaphosa amended the Electricity Regulation Act, raising the licensing threshold for embedded generation projects from 1 MW to 100 MW, that SOLA’s efforts took off at a much faster pace.
In 2023, the government took another crucial step by removing the licensing cap entirely, opening the doors for even greater growth. This policy shift has allowed SOLA to increase its energy output by tenfold in a fraction of the time. Looking ahead, Persson believes that continued policy clarity, including fair and efficient grid access processes, will enable them to set even more ambitious targets for 2030.
SEE ALSO: Earthbond Secures Investment from Madica to Scale Solar Solutions for Nigerian SMEs
SOLA’s Role in Alleviating Load Shedding
One of the critical benefits of SOLA’s energy generation is its ability to ease the burden of load shedding, particularly during the day. The Lichtenberg solar plant, for example, contributes up to 20% of a single stage of load shedding. With South Africa’s recent respite from power cuts, SOLA’s contribution to reducing unserved energy is more evident than ever.
SOLA’s work is also seen as a vital solution to the ongoing economic challenges caused by frequent energy disruptions. The company’s renewable energy plants are helping mitigate the negative impact of unreliable electricity on businesses, households, and the overall economy.
SOLA’s Vision for the Future
While achieving the 1 billion kWh milestone is a huge success for SOLA, the company remains focused on the long term. SOLA’s Springbok and Selemela 1 solar projects are in their final stages, and with more projects in the pipeline, the company is set to continue growing its renewable energy capacity. SOLA’s goal is to contribute even more clean electricity to South Africa’s grid and reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Katherine Persson emphasized that SOLA’s commitment to South Africa’s renewable energy transition and economic development is unwavering. The company aims to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy solutions to help the country move away from fossil fuels and towards a greener future.
Achieving 1 billion kWh by 2024 was a major milestone, but for SOLA, the journey is far from over. With their growing portfolio of projects and continued dedication to renewable energy, SOLA is poised to play a critical role in South Africa’s energy future.
