Beyond the Blueprint: How We’re Wheeling Change and Building Better Communities

The Transformative Power of Wheeling

Imagine your enterprise, perhaps a bustling manufacturing plant in Gauteng or a dynamic corporate office in Cape Town, powered by clean, green electricity generated hundreds of kilometers away in the sun-drenched landscapes of the North-West. This isn’t a futuristic concept; it’s the tangible reality of wheeling, an ingenious system that SOLA has been at the forefront of implementing across South Africa.

Our Selemela Solar Plants, strategically located in the resource-rich, sun-drenched northern regions, stand as a powerful testament to our commitment to utility-scale solar generation. But how does that abundant, environmentally friendly power seamlessly reach your facility, regardless of its geographical location? Through wheeling, we leverage the existing national grid infrastructure to effectively “transport” the electricity generated at Selemela directly to our buyer’s meters. This groundbreaking approach means businesses can fully embrace the myriad benefits of renewable energy without the need for a physical, direct connection to our plants. It’s a remarkably seamless and efficient method for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and secure a reliable energy supply through meticulously structured power purchase agreements (PPAs).

With a combined capacity of 256MWp, the Selemela Solar Park plants are a significant contributor to South Africa’s renewable energy landscape. Annually, they generate an impressive 593,721 MWh of energy, which is enough to power over 80,000 households. This substantial output also plays a crucial role in combating climate change, avoiding over 420,760 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

Uplifting Communities with Every Kilowatt Generated

Our commitment extends far beyond the perimeter fences of our solar farms. At SOLA, we firmly believe that true, holistic sustainability necessitates empowering the communities that graciously host our vital energy projects. Our comprehensive range of initiatives around the Selemela plants has ignited a wave of tangible upliftment within the surrounding communities, thanks to valued partnerships.

From the initial planning stages, we’ve meticulously prioritised robust local engagement and genuine economic empowerment. During the construction phase of our projects, we created numerous meaningful employment opportunities for local residents, providing not just jobs but also invaluable skills training and fostering sustainable local economic growth. This commitment ensures that the benefits of our projects are shared broadly.

Through a diverse portfolio of carefully designed community development programs, SOLA has consistently invested in and supported initiatives that directly address the specific needs and aspirations identified by the communities themselves. This includes, but is not limited to, providing critical support to local schools with essential educational resources and vital infrastructure upgrades, enhancing access to and quality of healthcare facilities, and actively funding innovative entrepreneurial ventures that create sustainable livelihoods. We’ve had the immense privilege of witnessing firsthand how consistent access to clean, reliable energy, coupled with targeted socio-economic development, can profoundly transform lives, creating a powerful ripple effect of positive change that resonates throughout entire regions.

Our commitment to these vibrant communities is an absolutely integral part of our overarching mission, powerfully demonstrating that responsible, sustainable energy development can and should always go hand-in-hand with profound social upliftment and long-term community prosperity.

Power Your Business, Empower Our Nation

Are you ready to make the decisive switch to clean, reliable, and community-focused energy for your business? Learn more about how SOLA can be your trusted partner in harnessing the immense power of wheeling and unlocking the benefits of our tailored power purchase agreements. Visit our Buy Energy page today to join us in actively building a brighter, more resilient, and truly sustainable South Africa, one clean electron at a time.