In September 2025, the SOLA Group officially brought into commercial operation the continent’s first multi-buyer, flexible energy-wheeling solar facility, ahead of schedule, as written by Mining Review Africa. This milestone demonstrates how SOLA, as a leading renewable energy company, is using innovation not only to deliver clean power but to transform how companies procure and access renewable energy.

This development affirms what we have long championed: that true energy transformation demands not only ambition, but the technical, financial, and operational capacity to deliver.

Pioneering Project Highlights

To understand the significance, let’s unpack why the Springbok facility is so unique:

• Located in the Free State province of South Africa, the facility boasts a capacity of 195 MWac and spans approximately 350 hectares.
• This is the first project in Africa to deploy a true multi-buyer model under an energy wheeling structure, where multiple businesses contract for power from a single plant under flexible terms.
• The model provides both long-term and shorter-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), giving buyers increased flexibility.
• Anchor off-takers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Sibanye-Stillwater played a key role in unlocking financing, while additional participants include Vodacom, Sasol, Old Mutual and others across mining, telecoms and finance sectors.
• At full capacity, the plant is expected to generate approximately 430 GWh annually – enough to power around 150 000 homes – and offset approximately 399 000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, equivalent to planting about 6.5 million trees.
• The facility was delivered ahead of schedule, reinforcing SOLA’s reputation for timely project execution.
• In recognition of its commitment to local communities, the project has invested around R375 million in surrounding areas and created about 500 employment opportunities, with 49% of workers classified as youth.

What makes this new model so important?

This multi-buyer, energy wheeling model shifts the paradigm of how renewable energy is procured in Africa. Instead of the traditional single-off-taker model where one company signs a long-term PPA with a dedicated plant, this project allows multiple companies to tap into the same solar facility under varying contract lengths and terms. That flexibility means:

• Scalability & accessibility – More companies, including those who may not want or be able to commit to ultra-long contracts, can access renewable power.
• Cost and risk optimisation – With multiple off-takers sharing the plant output, risk is diversified and economies of scale become possible.
• Energy wheeling innovation – The project uses virtual wheeling structures, where power is generated, fed to the grid, and allocated to multiple buyers through a wheeling arrangement, setting a precedent for grid modernisation in South Africa and beyond.
• Broad-based uptake of renewables – By enabling this structure, the renewable energy company SOLA is facilitating corporate decarbonisation, helping organisations meet sustainability goals while securing cost-effective power.

SOLA Group leading the way

As a renewable energy company, SOLA Group has now expanded its private wheeling portfolio to around 464 MWp of operational capacity in South Africa, establishing itself as one of the region’s pioneers in corporate renewable procurement.
The company’s approach – combining innovation, scale and community investment – positions it at the forefront of the energy transition.

By delivering Africa’s first operational multi-buyer solar plant under a flexible PPA and energy-wheeling framework, SOLA is not only building capacity but also shaping how future projects will be structured, financed and accessed by corporate off-takers.

Why this matters for businesses

For companies looking to reduce carbon footprints, lock in stable energy costs and participate in renewable energy procurement without needing to build their own assets, this model opens up a compelling route.

Through power purchase agreements with a trusted renewable energy company, businesses can:

• Secure green electricity via energy wheeling without onsite generation.
• Benefit from flexible contract lengths and the option to scale as their requirements evolve.
• Align with environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals, demonstrating leadership in sustainable operations.

Your Path Forward: A Free Energy Assessment Awaits

If the pace and promise of the Springbok project excites you – good. Because the next step is within reach.

At SOLA, we believe every organisation should have clarity on its energy options. That’s why we offer a free energy load assessment for prospective buyers. This assessment will help you:

• Understand your current load profile and consumption patterns
• Identify potential cost and emissions savings
• Model what procurement via virtual wheeling or PPAs could look like
• Explore flexible contract structures best suited to your business

Whether you’re a large corporation or a growing enterprise, this assessment is your first step toward a smarter, cleaner, more reliable energy future.

Visit our Buy Energy page today and submit your details. We’ll analyse your load at no cost and give you an initial roadmap to greater energy independence and savings.

We’re ready when you are.