Northern Cape utility-scale solar expands

SolarAfrica has reached financial close on US$81mn to develop SunCentral 2, the next 114 MW phase of its flagship utility-scale solar programme in the Northern Cape

The funding, provided by RMB and Investec Bank Limited, represents a major step in expanding access to affordable, clean energy for South African businesses, with first power expected in 2026.

SunCentral 2 follows SunCentral 1, which also achieved financial close at 114 MW at the end of 2024. Together with SunCentral 3, these projects make up Phase 1 of the broader SunCentral vision, totalling 342 MW. At full build-out, SunCentral is planned to reach 1 GW, establishing it as one of South Africa’s largest solar initiatives designed specifically for one-to-many, bilateral wheeling.

“Businesses want power they can trust – clean, affordable and predictable – and SunCentral is being built exactly for that purpose. It’s encouraging to see the confidence from our funding partners as we move into the next stage of delivery,” said David McDonald, CEO of SolarAfrica.

He added: “More than a big solar project, SunCentral is a long-term infrastructure investment that gives companies the ability to manage their costs, cut emissions, and reduce their reliance on utility power that is often vulnerable to unpredictable tariff hikes. This next step gets us closer to bringing that value to even more South African businesses.”

Like the first plant, SunCentral 2 incorporates community development initiatives to ensure local residents benefit socially and economically. Job creation, education, local procurement, and skills development remain central to the programme, supporting economic activity in the surrounding areas in collaboration with the project’s main contractors.

SunCentral also forms a key part of SolarAfrica’s broader 3 GW wheeling pipeline under development across South Africa. By pairing utility-scale renewable generation with flexible delivery through wheeling, the company is enabling businesses to access green energy without the upfront capital typically required for on-site solar installations.

A portion of funding from each SunCentral project is allocated to the development of the Main Transmission Substation (MTS). Designed for up to 2 GW of green-power evacuation, the MTS will strengthen the national grid and facilitate the connection of future renewable projects more efficiently.

“With wheeling, we have a model that puts control back into the hands of commercial and industrial customers. Instead of just surviving tariff hikes, it allows companies to plan for growth with a cleaner, more dependable energy mix,” said McDonald.

New subsidiary targets renewable energy driven data centre growth across Mozambique and Southern Africa

Yellow Tulip Inc has announced the launch of Cleanwatts Mozambique, a new majority-owned subsidiary dedicated to building renewable energy-powered data centres in Mozambique and across the Southern African region

The venture is being established in partnership with Memoryvanguard and Nyala Capital.

The new entity will deploy Cleanwatts Digital’s AI-driven energy management platform as the technological backbone of its data centre projects. Designed to optimise energy use, integrate battery storage and coordinate Virtual Power Plant operations, the platform will support the development of sustainable, grid-independent computing infrastructure. This approach aims to address the accelerating demand for AI and cloud computing capacity across Africa.

Mozambique presents a strong case for such investment, offering plentiful renewable energy resources, a strategic coastal location and rising regional demand for digital infrastructure. The country’s extensive hydroelectric generation capacity, strong solar potential and available natural gas reserves create multiple pathways to power high-density, energy-intensive data centre facilities. In addition, its coastline enhances access to submarine cable systems, strengthening connectivity to international networks.

Cleanwatts Mozambique will follow a development-for-sale strategy, focusing on institutional investors and infrastructure operators looking for ready-to-operate, renewable-powered data centre assets. Each facility will be delivered in line with international standards and will incorporate Cleanwatts Digital’s energy management solutions from inception. This ensures that buyers acquire fully operational assets engineered for efficiency, resilience and sustainability from the outset.

"Cleanwatts Mozambique represents a significant expansion of Yellow Tulip's footprint into one of the most promising markets for sustainable infrastructure development," said Basílio Simões, CEO of Yellow Tulip Inc and chairman of Cleanwatts Mozambique. "The convergence of AI-driven compute demand and the global imperative for sustainable infrastructure creates an exceptional opportunity. By combining Mozambique's renewable energy potential with Cleanwatts Digital's proven platform, we are positioned to deliver data center assets that meet the highest standards of performance and sustainability. Our strong pipeline reflects great market interest, and we look forward to bringing these projects to market for institutional investors seeking exposure to Africa's digital infrastructure growth."

Cleanwatts Digital, part of Yellow Tulip’s investment portfolio, supplies the AI-based energy management system that will underpin all Cleanwatts Mozambique developments. The platform currently oversees 1.5 TWh of energy each year across four continents and has a proven track record in enhancing renewable generation performance, managing battery storage systems and balancing complex energy loads.

Aerial view of the onsite power project in Burkina. (Image source: Africa Power Services)

Africa Power Services has released images of a recently-completed project in Burkina Faso to supply an undisclosed mining site

The on-site power project dates back over two years, the France-based company noted in a statement posted on its social media.

“On a mining site in Burkina Faso, the project began in 2023 with the rental of a power plant to secure the existing electricity supply,” it commented.

“Two years later, in 2025, our client renewed its trust in us for the construction of its power plant under an EPC contract.”

To initiate this new phase, Africa Power Services teams deployed an 8 MW rental power plant, available 24/7, and capable of taking over instantly in the event of a grid failure, calling it a “key solution to ensure uninterrupted operations throughout the construction phase.”

The project then continued with the construction and commissioning of a 16 MW thermal power plant, designed to provide long-term reliability, the company added.

Africa Power Services said the project demonstrated its expertise in supporting clients and delivering scalable, complementary solutions, from rental through to EPC.

At the end of last year, the company also commissioned a hybrid power plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for another mining site.

After months of mobilisation in challenging terrain, its team successfully commissioned a 19 MWp solar field and 18 MVA BESS that will strengthen an existing on-site hybrid power plant, as part of a transition to reaching 100% renewable energy production.

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Uganda to get transmission boost (Image source: Adobe Stock)

UK-based Gridworks has has signed two agreements with the Ugandan government that will enable its Amari transmission project to begin construction in the coming weeks

It follows an Implementation Agreement with Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, and a Transmission Services Agreement with the national utility, Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL).

It means Amari will become the first independent transmission project (ITP) on the continent to move into the construction phase, marking a major milestone in the adoption of private sector funding models for transmission infrastructure in Africa.

“This is a decisive step that will allow the Amari transmission project to move into construction,” said Gridworks’ CEO Chris Flavin.

“By prioritising strategic transmission infrastructure, the government is laying the foundations for reliable power supply, industrial growth, and long-term economic development. We now look forward to starting construction in the coming weeks and to delivering this important project.”

The US$50mn project will upgrade four high voltage electricity substations at key points on Uganda’s grid:

Tororo 220kV station, in eastern Uganda, close to the Kenyan border.

Nkenda 132kV station, in the West, at the intended high voltage interconnection point to DRC.

Mbarara North 132kV station and

Mbarara South 220kV station in western Uganda.

According to Gridworks, a subsidiary of British International Investment (BII), the UK government’s development finance institution, the project will improve the supply of electricity to industrial users in line with Uganda’s plans to improve the competitiveness of its industry, particularly the manufacturing sector.

Amari will also allow the uptake of more renewable energy onto the grid and provide capacity to support future regional interconnection with Uganda’s neighbours.

Once completed, it will support Uganda’s growing electricity demand, enable the evacuation of current and future generation capacity, and contribute to lower system losses and improved power quality across the network.

“As UETCL, we view this partnership as strategic and transformative and we look forward to the effective implementation and tangible improvements to the national grid,” said Richard Matsiko, CEO of UETCL.

As a pilot for private sector transmission in Uganda, the project has supported the creation by the government of a regulatory framework equipped to attract finance for future grid investment.

There is a growing trend of African governments beginning to work with the private sector to develop and fund critical electricity grid infrastructure.

Several countries have initiated private transmission projects or regulatory reforms designed to allow private finance to flow into the sector.

Ruth Nankabirwa, Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, called the Amari project a “strategic pillar” within the government’s long-term agenda to modernise the nation’s power network.

“By strengthening transmission infrastructure, we are enabling reliable power supply for industrial growth, regional power trade, and inclusive socio-economic transformation,” she said.

“Our partnership with Gridworks reflects our commitment to mobilising sustainable private capital and expertise to accelerate delivery of priority energy investments.”

Gridworks has a portfolio of further ITPs in development, including Chimuara-Nacala (Phase II & III), a US$450mn, 460km high voltage transmission line connecting the central and northern regions of Mozambique; and Mbale-Bulambuli, a project building 80km of high-voltage lines and two new substations in eastern Uganda.

Most recently, it announced an agreement with the Ethiopian government to develop two large scale transmission projects, Degehabur–Kebridehar and Hurso–Ayisha, covering over 400km and with a combined value of around US$400mn.

The Gridworks portfolio also includes Moyi Power, a greenfield, solar-powered utility that will provide electricity to a million people in three cities in DRC; and distributed utility companies, Sustainable Power Solutions and Anzana Electric Group.

“Transmission is a vital part of electrifying the African continent,” said Chris Chijiutomi, managing director and head of Africa at BII.

He said the Amari announcement “demonstrates the role that development capital can play in connecting millions of families and businesses to reliable and affordable power.”

Read more:

Mozambique gets transmission lines, data centre boost

South Africa secures World Bank loan for infrastructure revival

Weza Power to accelerate Burundi electrification