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Learn More About Wheeling & BESS

SOLA was the first Independent Power Producer (IPP) to be awarded a generation licence for a private utility-scale renewable power plant outside of the public renewable energy procurement process, the first company to finance a utility-scale renewable wheeling project, and the first to wheel green energy at scale across the national grid.

What is Wheeling?

Energy wheeling is the process of transmitting electricity generated by an IPP (like a solar farm) from its point of generation to an end-user through the national or municipal electricity grid. Instead of being confined to the energy sources available directly from your local utility, wheeling empowers businesses to access renewable energy from a remote location. Energy generation and consumption data are then aggregated on a monthly basis, and a credit is applied directly to each buyer’s Eskom electricity account.

Eskom’s wheeling mechanism allows buyers connected to the Eskom network to benefit from PPAs from SOLA’s renewable energy fleet, regardless of an individual buyer’s location. Wheeling allows energy users to buy clean power at a lower cost than coal-based electricity, while contributing to the implementation and connection of much-needed generation capacity on the South African power network.

What is Virtual Wheeling?

Virtual wheeling is a mechanism that allows electricity generated from a renewable energy source, such as a solar farm located off-site – to be “virtually” delivered via the national or municipal grid. Unlike traditional wheeling, which requires a direct line of energy transfer, virtual wheeling uses billing and energy metering systems to offset a business’s grid energy usage with renewable energy credits from a remote site. This enables businesses to support clean energy without needing to install solar panels on their own premises.

Through this process, businesses can buy electricity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs), like SOLA, and get cash refunds from Eskom based on how much of that energy they consume. Businesses continue to receive and pay their normal municipal electricity bill. However now, Eskom will process a monthly refund, based on their usage, directly to the business.

What is BESS?

A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is a technology that stores energy generated from solar power, in largescale battery systems. The stored energy can then be released when needed, ensuring a steady supply of electricity, even when renewable sources like the sun or wind are not available.

During the day, when solar energy production is at its peak, any excess energy generated that isn’t used immediately can be stored. Later, when the sun sets or during periods of high electricity demand, that stored energy is released, making it available for businesses.