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South African solar project reveals power of strategic partnerships

The Merak 1 project has been used as an example to show how strategic partnerships can drive positive change and help address the energy needs of South Africa and beyond. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Trina Solar, a leading provider of smart PV and energy storage solutions, has partnered with WBHO Construction, a multidisciplinary construction company, and SOLA, a solar energy company, to deliver the Merak 1 solar project

Expected to be up and running by the end of 2024, the solar project will bring online 135MW to power the operations of African Rainbow Minerals, one of South Africa's foremost mining companies. 205,161 panels of Trina Solar's advanced Vertex modules will be supplied for the enterprise, which has been described as a major milestone in sustainable energy solutions for the country.

"We're proud to be part of this project to supply 135MW 210mm p-type bifacial Vertex modules,” commented Zaheer Khan, regional director of southern Africa at Trina Solar. “This collaboration showcases Trina Solar's commitment to advancing clean energy solutions tailored to the country's industrial needs and deliver high-power, high-efficiency and reliable solar solutions. This project marks our inaugural foray into utility-scale projects of South Africa.”

Derek Wallace, director at WBHO Construction, added, "We are excited to play a pivotal role in the Merak 1 project, leveraging WBHO Construction's EPC expertise to contribute to South Africa's sustainable energy future. This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering innovative solutions for utility-scale projects.”

The power of strategic partnerships such as this could prove vital in meeting the evolving energy needs and challenges facing South Africa currently. In Nigeria, meanwhile, a new business model has been proposed to meet the country's similar concerns and could unlock 3.3GW of solar capacity. 

A digital image of the Trina Solar Verex PV panels that will be used in the Merak project.

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