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, reached commercial operation on 24 April 2024, with 256MWp installed capacity delivering 200MW of clean, sustainable energy into the Eskom Transmission Network. The Wheeling Agreement with Eskom not only ensures power availability on a sustainable basis to Tronox but will also supply clean electricity into the Eskom high voltage transmission network – a first for South Africa. The project will directly feed into Eskom’s high voltage transmission network, a first for Eskom as the largest private wheeling project in operation.

The two solar plants comprise of over 390 073 solar panels on single axis trackers, covering a total area of 430 hectares and generating 593 721 MWh of energy annually, which is enough to power over 80,000 households with electricity. Not only will the project assist with the country’s electricity challenges, but it will also see between 558 097 tons and 575 909 tons of CO₂ emissions being avoided. 

Pioneered by the SOLA Group and the South African Renewable Energy Industry, in the September 2022 financial close, the project was noted as being the largest corporate renewable energy Power Purchase Agreement in Africa. Additionally, it is the first 100MW+ project to be registered following the August 2021 landmark legislation where the licensing limit was raised from 1MW to 100MW.

“This project has fast-tracked our sustainability journey to zero emissions,” said Mpho Mothoa, Managing Director- Tronox South Africa and Saudi Arabia. “We have taken on a project that could ultimately supply major cities in South Africa between 3-5% of their power demand per year.” 

“There are significant firsts here for the renewable energy industry,” says Dom Wills, CEO, SOLA Group, “These are the first projects of this scale in SA that are based on pure private bilateral trade. It’s also a great plus for the country that these projects are 100% South African owned, financed, constructed, operated, and managed.”

This mega sola project was designed and constructed by WBHO and SOLA Build provided the engineering expertise. 

Not only is the SOLA project a breakthrough for the private energy market but has also played a crucial role in improving the livelihoods of the local community. During the construction of the solar plants, nearly 800 local community members were employed. “At Tronox, we pride ourselves in playing a leadership role by improving the quality of life of the communities that host us,” said Mpho Mothoa.

To date, the project has created value by:

• Providing nearly 800 temporary jobs for residents
• A further 109 unskilled and 38 skilled workers via SMME’s on the project
• Bringing nearly 700 contractors on site
• Spending R120 million within the local community
• Educating more than 300 people through WBHO’s Small, Micro, Medium Enterprises (SMME) training program

“Further to this, we understand that we need to proactively create a positive legacy for the local communities while building a sustainable business. It is for this reason that we invest in programmes that not only advance environmental stewardship, but also empower the communities in which we operate,” added Mothoa.