Globeleq, Africa’s leading power generation company, has completed two big renewable energy projects in South Africa’s Northern Cape. One is the 50MW PV De Aar solar facility and the other is the 50MW PV Droogfontein solar facility. Both systems have been generating and sending clean energy to the national grid since late 2013.

“Globeleq, Mainstream Renewable Power and our consortium partners have clearly demonstrated the ability to successfully develop, finance, construct and operate utility scale solar projects in the newly created South African renewable energy market. Infrastructure projects like these boost local economies through delivery of clean and reliable electricity, creation of jobs and the development of skills that will increasingly be in demand as the industry grows. The projects are also an important contribution to the country’s energy mix,” noted Mikael Karlsson, Chief Executive Officer for Globeleq. He added: “Globeleq continues to build the leading African private power company and remains committed to deliver clean and reliable energy to the region.”

Projects such as these are important to countries like South Africa that are just emerging into the renewable energy market. The two projects created around 1000 jobs during construction. Of those, 700 were filled by locals in the surround communities. A percentage of the revenues from the two projects is also said to be reinvested into the surround communities.

Part of South Africa’s first private power generation projects is the 138MW Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm in the Eastern Cape. Globeleq is also involved in this project. With developments like these continually setting up in South Africa, the appeal to investors becomes even greater. All of these projects and future developments will be part of the Government of South Africa’s Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Program.

Mark Pickering, Managing Director of Globeleq South Africa, which manages the operation and commercial aspects of the three facilities above, added: “These plants are part of the first wave of private power generation to be built in the country in many decades. As such they herald the dawn of a new era. Solar power is truly a win-win solution that benefits the local community, the national economy and the global environment.”