SOLAR & ENERGY EFFICIENCY
12
A successful energy transition requires a portfolio approach
C orporates are increasingly adopting hybrid renewable solutions combining solar, wind, and storage, reflecting real-world trends. BloombergNEF research shows corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) will surpass government procurement this year in South Africa, supporting 73% of the 2.3 GW new solar and wind capacity. By adopting a strategic, staged process—from understanding energy use to renewable investment—companies prioritise resilience. Scale, load, location, and grid connection shape how they combine on-site generation, wheeled renewable energy, and batteries, tailoring each approach to their needs. No single approach stands on its own; battery energy storage (BESS), variable renewable energy, and wheeling each form part of a portfolio aligned with a specific business journey. That journey usually moves through three phases. The first is on-site generation, with rooftop or ground-mounted solar and BESS designed to carry the business through energy outages and ensure a secure supply. Phase two is wheeling, where a business can contract the cheapest electrons, usually solar, and then add By Bronwyn Timm, Business Development Manager, SOLA Group
wheeling: BNEF reports solar PPA prices around R848/MWh and wind about R1,104/ MWh, reflecting wind’s stronger but more expensive profile. Finally, it’s as important to build the financial case as the sustainability one, because they lead to different choices. Most companies, given the choice, opt for cost savings, and right now South Africa is at a point where lower-cost renewable energy and lower emissions are a package deal. Coal still supplied around 78% of the country’s electricity last year, down from 90% a decade ago, so this window where cost and emissions point in the same direction is likely to keep widening rather than closing. In time, as the market matures, companies will face a clearer choice between the two.
capacity as an emerging constraint on new renewable projects in South Africa, making early location and grid-connection decisions even more crucial. Before selecting a solution, companies need clarity on energy usage. Each step requires granular visibility into energy demands across key periods and peaks. Ideally, they understand their hourly energy use per site and the best power procurement strategy for their demand profile. An audit of consumption, changes over time, and steady or declining periods helps accurately assess and forecast electricity needs. The second step is choosing between wheeling, virtual wheeling, and behind-the- meter generation based on your energy goals. If prioritising supply security, focus on behind-the-meter generation and BESS; for cheap renewable energy at scale, opt for energy wheeling. Prices favour
wind to shape its generation profile across more hours of the day. Phase three involves deploying BESS at scale, either alongside a wheeled solar project or as a larger on-site battery. This phased approach secures supply within a flexible portfolio that can adapt and expand. BNEF highlights transmission
By adopting a strategic, staged process— from understanding energy use to renewable investment—companies prioritise resilience.
www.solagroup.co.za
SolarAfrica’s SunCentral 1 commences commercial operations across South Africa T he latest milestone follows the energisation of SunCentral 1 in August and marks the first operating facility within the 342 MW first phase of SolarAfrica’s flagship utility-scale wheeling development. SolarAfrica’s SunCentral 1 has reached Commercial Operation Date (COD), SunCentral 1 forms part of the development’s 342 MW first phase, comprising three 114 MW solar facilities. At full scale, SunCentral is planned to deliver up to 1 GW of renewable energy capacity, supplying multiple commercial and industrial customers through one-to-many wheeling. PowerChina served as the principal solar contractor for SunCentral 1, taking the project through construction and commissioning into commercial operation. The company says that the partnership remains a driving force behind the project’s success. They added that, through continued joint efforts, both parties successfully achieved COD, marking a promising start to the partnership. Both parties look forward to continued collaboration to support the smooth delivery of future phases and to contribute to local economic and social development. “Getting a project of this scale to
commercial operation requires many moving parts to come together,” says Fana Tlhalepe, Chief Delivery Officer at SolarAfrica. “We worked closely with PowerChina and other partners such as Proconics NewFields, Eskom, NTCSA and DNV throughout construction, testing and commissioning to resolve issues as they arose and keep the programme moving.” Tlhalepe added that PowerChina’s utility-scale solar track record and technical capability, paired with SolarAfrica’s in-house expertise and project development experience, were central to delivering a project of this size and complexity. SunCentral has also created employment and development opportunities in the surrounding communities. To date, the project has employed 655 local community members, while 80 SMMEs from De Aar and Hanover are participating in a training programme. Community initiatives have included support for local schools and the donation of 60 wheelchairs across five facilities.
bringing 114 MW of new renewable energy generation capacity online as part of its flagship SunCentral development between Hanover and De Aar in the Northern Cape. This follows the completion and energisation of SunCentral 1 and the associated transmission infrastructure in August, and marks the transition of the first SunCentral facility from construction and commissioning into commercial operation. For SolarAfrica, it is also an important step in the company’s move into delivering and operating utility-scale renewable energy projects. David McDonald, CEO of SolarAfrica, says: “SunCentral 1 reaching COD is significant because we are no longer talking about what large-scale wheeling can deliver in the future; it is now happening.” “For our customers, this moves them from having contracted access to renewable energy towards receiving that power through the wheeling arrangement.”
www.solarafrica.com
SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS
NOVEMBER 2026
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