Beyond the Blueprint: How We’re Wheeling Change and Building Better Communities
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-
Watts & Rands: How Renewable Energy Projects Get Financed and Built
Watts & Rands: How Renewable Energy Projects Get Financed and Built Understanding the people, processes, and partnerships behind clean energy deals. Renewable energy is often seen as clean, green and endlessly flowing, and while the sun and wind are free, the infrastructure to harness them is not. Behind every solar or wind farm lies a […]
The Superpower Driving the Future of Low-Carbon Electricity
The Superpower Driving the Future of Low-Carbon Electricity By Dom Wills, Executive Director at SOLA Group If you’ve ever worked on a large infrastructure project, you’ll know that these ventures are often plagued by delays, budget overruns, and underwhelming results. In fact, Professor Bent Flyvbjerg of Oxford University has spent decades studying these
Harnessing the Sun Responsibly: The Environmental Impact of Utility-Scale Solar Projects
Harnessing the Sun Responsibly: The Environmental Impact of Utility-Scale Solar Projects At SOLA, we believe that energy shouldn’t cost the earth. As a leading developer and constructor of utility-scale solar PV projects in South Africa, our mission goes beyond providing clean, cost-effective electricity — it’s about building a more sustainable fut
Virtual Wheeling: A Game-Changer for Businesses on Municipal Power
Virtual Wheeling: A Game-Changer for Businesses on Municipal Power For years, businesses connected to municipal electricity networks have faced a frustrating barrier: they couldn’t access clean, affordable energy from private producers because they weren’t directly connected to Eskom. But that’s all changing. Thanks to Eskom’s newly launched Virtual
Powering the Future: How Battery Energy Storage Can Revolutionise Mining in South Africa
Powering the Future: How Battery Energy Storage Can Revolutionise Mining in South Africa The mining sector, both in South Africa and globally, is facing growing challenges in securing its energy needs. As energy costs rise, the reliability of supply becomes more uncertain, and the pressure to decarbonise intensifies, mining companies must adopt new approache
Sustainable Procurement: Powering a Greener Future for Businesses
Sustainable Procurement: Powering a Greener Future for Businesses As businesses evolve in an increasingly conscious marketplace, the role of procurement is shifting beyond cost-saving measures to include sustainability as a core priority. Sustainable procurement ensures that every purchasing decision supports environmental, social, and economic goals –
The Economics of Solar: How Renewable Energy Reduces Costs for SA Businesses
The Economics of Solar: How Renewable Energy Reduces Costs for SA Businesses In today’s challenging economic climate, South African businesses are seeking innovative ways to cut costs and enhance operational efficiency. One of the most effective strategies is the adoption of green energy solutions. At SOLA, we are committed to delivering clean energy that
Renewable Options: Understanding Green Energy Solutions for Your Business in South Africa
Renewable Options: Understanding Green Energy Solutions for Your Business in South Africa In South Africa’s dynamic energy landscape, businesses are increasingly turning to renewable energy solutions to reduce costs, improve sustainability, and ensure energy security. With a variety of options available, understanding the right fit for your business is ess
How to Spot the Real Deal: Identifying Accredited Independent Power Producers (IPPs)
How to Spot the Real Deal: Identifying Accredited Independent Power Producers (IPPs) As demand for green energy grows in South Africa, the market has seen a significant rise in Independent Power Producers (IPPs) stepping up to supply sustainable energy solutions. However, not all IPPs operate with the required certifications and accreditations needed to lega
Understanding Tariffs & Rebates: Making the Most of Wheeling with SOLA Group
Understanding Tariffs & Rebates: Making the Most of Wheeling with SOLA Group When it comes to electricity in South Africa, the price you pay – or tariff – isn’t just a flat rate. Eskom, South Africa’s main electricity provider, along with various municipalities, offers different tariffs that vary based on factors like usage patterns, time [&helli
Energy Wheeling 101 – Understanding Energy Wheeling In SA
Energy Wheeling 101 – Understanding Energy Wheeling In SA As South Africa continues to embrace renewable energy, the concept of energy wheeling has emerged as a key solution for transferring power across distances without the need for on-site generation. With the country’s growing demand for reliable and sustainable energy, energy wheeling allows bus
Understanding Energy PPAs: Long-Term vs. Short-Term Contracts and Their Benefits
Understanding Energy PPAs: Long-Term vs. Short-Term Contracts and Their Benefits As the global shift toward clean energy intensifies, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) have emerged as an essential tool in financing and developing renewable energy projects. These agreements outline the terms by which electricity is generated, delivered, and paid for, making th
Pioneering solar projects with SOLA Group and Tronox start operations in the Free State
Pioneering solar projects with SOLA Group and Tronox start operations in the Free State July 2024, SOLA Group, in partnership with Tronox Holdings plc (“Tronox”), announced its multi-million Rand solar wheeling projects in Lichtenburg, North-West, South Africa have reached commercial operation. The two solar plants, which were constructed in 2022, reache
Our New Leadership Must Put Power into the Hands of All South Africans
Our New Leadership Must Put Power into the Hands of All South Africans At the SOLA Group we often talk about creating South African solutions to South African problems. We’re proud of our sixteen-year history of delivering innovative clean energy projects, often against the grain of prevailing energy policy or industry norms. But we also […]
Partner with SOLA to buy green, clean energy for your business
Partner with SOLA to buy green, clean energy for your business South African businesses have historically had little choice when it comes to buying electricity. SOLA helped to change that when we built the first utility-scale solar PV wheeling project in the country. The plant allowed our client, Amazon, to buy large amounts of clean, […]
SOLA signs land lease agreement with Eskom for renewable energy development
SOLA signs land lease agreement with Eskom for renewable energy development We have concluded land lease agreements with power utility Eskom, to develop some of its underutilized land in Mpumalanga. SOLA Group will use this land to develop two large renewable energy projects, with a combined generating capacity of approximately 345MW. We intend to conclude [
Sick of load-shedding? How wheeling can save the South African electricity landscape
Sick of load-shedding? How wheeling can save the South African electricity landscape Just as South Africans start forgetting about the resources that go on behind the scenes when they switch on the lights, they’re reminded about how much they’re actually reliant on Eskom. But the return of load shedding spells something even more concerning than [&hellip
SOLA launches its first engineering bursary to encourage solar PV expertise amongst electrical engineers
SOLA launches its first engineering bursary to encourage solar PV expertise amongst electrical engineers SOLA has launched its first engineering bursary, giving the opportunity for a final year electrical engineering student to have their tuition paid for and a job opportunity as a graduate engineer in the solar PV field. The move comes as part of […
What does a career in renewable energy look like if you’re a woman?
What does a career in renewable energy look like if you’re a woman? New SOLA executives lead the charge in a male-dominated industry Whilst Women’s day in South Africa marks the historical contribution of women to ending Apartheid, it is also an opportunity to bring into public discourse the long way we have to go […]
SOLA gets approval for largest solar PV wheeling agreement in South Africa
SOLA gets approval for largest solar PV wheeling agreement in South Africa A flagship renewable energy project, commissioned by Amazon, is set to demonstrate the flexibility and convenience of procuring independent power through the electricity grid. The project will see 28 GWh of solar energy wheeled via Eskom’s utility grid from a solar farm in […
The Robben Island solar microgrid shows the power of solar PV and batteries
The Robben Island solar microgrid shows the power of solar PV and batteries It has been almost a year and a half since the Robben Island Solar Microgrid project was awarded to SOLA Build. After a thorough process of designing, planning and implementing, the project has been launched – and is a demonstration of how […]
