SOLA has officially launched the first operational large-scale solar PV wheeling project in South Africa which provides clean energy to Amazon Web Services via the Eskom grid.

Energy wheeling, a new model of private energy procurement, allows power to be generated and purchased in geographically distinct locations. The Adams Solar PV project will provide over 28 million kWh of clean electricity to Amazon Web Services annually.

The solar PV plant comprises over 24 000 bifacial solar modules on single axis trackers, covering an area of 20 hectares. It is situated in the Northern Cape, where the solar resource is one of the best in the world. The solar PV facility tracks the sun throughout the day and absorbs irradiance from both the sky and reflected light from the ground. This design will see over 25 000 tons of carbon emissions being avoided annually – the equivalent of taking 5400 cars off of the road for a year.

The project is the first step forward in creating grid independence where private buyers and sellers of energy can trade with each other, and could help South Africa significantly in sticking to its carbon emission reductions targets whilst supporting economic growth and a just energy transition.