Wedoany.com Report on Feb 12th, SolarAfrica has successfully secured 1.5 billion rand (approximately $93.9 million) in financing to advance its 114 MW SunCentral 2 solar project located in South Africa's Northern Cape province. This funding comes from FirstRand Bank's Rand Merchant Bank division and Investec Bank's corporate and institutional banking division.
The SunCentral 2 solar project is expected to achieve its first power delivery in 2026. It is part of SolarAfrica's broader initiative to expand access to clean energy by combining utility-scale renewable power generation with flexible wheeling arrangements, avoiding upfront capital expenditure.
This project follows the 114 MW SunCentral 1, completed in late 2024, and together with the planned SunCentral 3, constitutes the first phase of SolarAfrica's solar expansion, targeting a total capacity of 342 MW. Ultimately, the SunCentral initiative plans to expand to a 1 GW scale, aiming to become one of South Africa's largest solar initiatives specifically designed for bilateral wheeling arrangements.
In addition to providing renewable energy, SunCentral 2 will implement a community upliftment program, including job creation, educational support, local procurement, and skills development to benefit local residents and stimulate economic activity. SolarAfrica CEO David McDonald stated, "Businesses need reliable power – clean, affordable, and predictable – and SunCentral is built for exactly that. The confidence from our funding partners is encouraging."
He added, "SunCentral is more than a large-scale solar project; it's a long-term infrastructure investment that helps businesses control costs, reduce emissions, and lower their dependence on utility power. This step brings us closer to delivering value to more South African businesses." SolarAfrica's nationwide wheeling pipeline has a development capacity of 3 GW, with each project allocating funding to build primary transmission substations, enhancing grid strength and supporting future renewable energy connections.
