Independent power producer SolarAfrica has partnered with Moolman Group’s energy platform MPower and investment firm Fledge Capital to develop a 184MW solar plant paired with a 300MWh battery storage system near eMalahleni in Mpumalanga.

The Highveld Hybrid Energy project will combine large-scale solar generation with battery storage, letting customers store cheaper daytime solar power and use it during periods of higher demand, giving businesses greater control over when they draw on renewable power instead of the standard grid supply. The project is expected to begin supplying electricity through wheeling arrangements from 2029.

SolarAfrica chief executive David McDonald said the project adds to the company’s growing utility-scale pipeline, which now spans 14 projects across South Africa, including its flagship SunCentral solar farm, as battery storage becomes an increasingly central part of its offering. MPower chief executive JZ Moolman said the project reflects businesses’ growing appetite for alternatives that offer long-term price certainty, improved energy security and lower carbon emissions.

Source: engineeringnews.co.za