SunEdison, the Global Solar Technology company, through its SA associates partner has secured R1.8 billion fund for the development of a 60 MW PV plant in South Africa.
The Boshof Solar Park will be situated near Kimberley in South Africa’s Free State Province and is 75% funded by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), who supported SunEdison for this project on the basis of two more utility scale developments which the company have initiated in SA.
Boshof will become the first PV project among South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) having PV modules from a local, majority-owned module manufacturer. The SA companies will handle 49% of the project with SunEdison maintaining a 51% share.
Elizabeth Littlefield, OPIC’s CEO and president said that “Use of a reliable source of energy is essential to point out a wide range of development challenges starting from food production to providing education to the students and building modern infrastructure.”
“OPIC is rather pleased to support the project that will provide a clean and reliable source of electricity and help to promote economic development.”
The construction phase of the project will create around 280 jobs locally, while the ongoing operations is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs with local manufacturers.
SunEdison will manufacture its AP90 Single Axis trackers which will be used at the plant. Local and surrounding procurement schemes are expected to invest $67.9 million into the local economy.
Pashupathy Gopalan, SunEdison’s VP and managing director for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa said that “Creating jobs will improve the developing economies and transform the lives through different changes.” Boshof is a key project that will benefit the entire South Africa by contributing in energy security and also create agriculture jobs.
Other Community Benefits:
Other foregoing PV projects of SunEdison are located in Limpopo and source a combined solar capacity of 58 MW.
The two projects from Boshof - Soutpan and Witkop, are depended on local contractors, suppliers and manufacturers, due to which many job opportunities are created which in turn improves the local economy.
Joelene Moodley, the Acting principle officer for South Africa’s Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) admired SunEdison’s surety to develop the country’s solar industry. “We are increasing our investments with SunEdison as we feel the Boshof project as a secure investment for our members and pensioners. So, we are rather comfortable in doubling our investment in SunEdison’s projects in SA by R312 million for the Boshof Solar Park.
Moodley further said that “We believe this as a safe place for investment and the project is arranged next to GEPF’s infrastructure project that promote economic growth and job creation.”
Gopalan from SunEdison said that “We have a good experience in providing reliable and economical solar energy solutions for our customers all over the world, in both the sector i.e. public and private. So due to this experience and our creative approach for technology and business development to create new markets.
South Africa would be truly benefitted by being a part of this historical project.
