South Africa: CSI Solar sells modules

CSI Solar Co announced the contracting of 256 MW of solar modules by SOLA Group, a Cape Town-based power producer.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

CSI Solar Co announced the contracting of 256 MW of solar modules by SOLA Group, a Cape Town-based power producer.

Two major projects

Canadian Solar Group’s subsidiary, signs a 256 MW sales contract to power South Africa’s two largest solar power projects. The SOLA Group operates these projects with a capacity of 126 MWp and 130 MWp each. Their construction in the North-Western province of South Africa started 2 months ago and will be completed in the first quarter of 2024.

These projects cover an area of approximately 430 hectares. Together, they will produce more than 580 GWH of renewable electricity each year to power 40,000 homes. CSI Solar’s modules are an achievement for the climate, as on average the country’s CO2 emissions will be reduced by 595 tons per year.

The CEO of SOLA Group, announced:

“These are the first solar projects of this scale in South Africa that rely on private power purchase agreements. The fact that these projects are 100% South African owned, financed, constructed, operated and managed is also a plus for the country. We hope that the model of private power through bilateral agreements will be more widely adopted. The benefits to the end user are competition, choice and ultimately a more diverse contribution to the electricity system.

A unique technology

The projects will use a total of 390,073 BiHiKu7 modules. These are very powerful modules since they can generate up to 670 W and offer an efficiency of up to 21.6%. These bifacial modules are also based on 210 mm wafers, which makes them larger than average.

These features make them adaptable to any type of public utility project. They can be used with most inverters and trackers. Finally, their size allows for an increased reduction in BoS (Balance of System) and LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) costs.

The president and CEO of Canadian Solar says he is “pleased” to be working with SOLA on projects that are so critical to opening up the South African grid to more “flexible” electricity trading. The BiHiKu7 modular technology guarantees the quality and reliability of the company’s products.

This competitive price/performance ratio will undoubtedly allow the South African energy sector to provide additional support for renewable energy. In any case, SOLA seems determined to transform the entire continent with clean energy.

 

Statkraft France won a 15.5 MWc solar project in Mourmelon-le-Grand during the latest national tender round, bringing its total awarded capacity to nearly 70 MWc in less than a year.
Solar growth in Central Europe has doubled that of the European Union since 2019, reshaping the energy mix and boosting battery manufacturing in the region.
Canadian energy producer Cordelio Power has completed commissioning of its Winfield solar project, a 150 MW facility backed by a 15-year contract with Microsoft and a $313mn structured financing deal.
Platform Anza surpassed its 2024 volume in just eight months, responding to developers’ urgency to secure projects ahead of regulatory and fiscal changes expected in 2026.
US-based AGCO has signed a ten-year virtual power purchase agreement with BRUC, covering a 100 MW solar project in Spain, to secure part of its European energy consumption.
Canadian developer Innergex has won all six projects of the Grenier des Essences portfolio for a total of 85 MW, strengthening its position in France’s ground-mounted solar sector.
Canadian Solar unveils its new low-carbon solar modules integrating heterojunction cells and thinner wafers, achieving up to 24.4% efficiency and a peak power output of 660 Wp.
Elmya Energy and Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure have created a joint venture targeting 4 GW of renewable energy projects in the United States, focused on the ERCOT and WECC markets.
Louth Callan has completed the Mousam River solar project in Sanford, marking a key milestone in the deployment of utility-scale energy infrastructure across the United States.
The state regulator has approved five new solar power purchase agreements to support growing demand under the CARES programme, targeting industrial and commercial clients.
With the commissioning of the El Carrizo plant, Ecoener surpasses 500 MW in installed capacity and becomes the most active Spanish investor in Guatemala’s energy sector.
Aspen Power has finalised the acquisition of two community solar projects totalling over 1 MWdc in New Jersey, developed by Ecogy Energy, with construction expected to begin shortly.
French developer Tenergie has started work on a ground-mounted solar plant at a former quarry, with expected annual output of 7.6 GWh from 2026.
Octopus Energy strengthens its presence in Spain with three new energy projects totalling 600 MW, powering 2.3 million households and accelerating the expansion of its European renewables portfolio.
VSB Italy has obtained authorisation to build a 6.2 MW agrivoltaic plant in Città della Pieve, combining solar power generation and agricultural cultivation on 10.6 hectares.
Ameren Missouri announces a 250 MW solar project to power 44,000 homes, reducing delays and costs through strategic development on company-owned land.
Verso Energy has inaugurated an experimental solar power plant in Outarville, testing the integration of photovoltaic panels across three hectares of large-scale crops with a 90% self-consumption rate.
Independent power producer R.Power is selling a 440MW ready-to-build photovoltaic portfolio in Poland, as political uncertainties drive a wave of divestments in the national renewable energy market.
Grenergy has finalised the sale of the fourth phase of its hybrid solar-storage project in Chile to CVC DIF, valued at up to $475mn, while retaining operation and maintenance for five years.
Q ENERGY secures financing for 252 MW of solar projects in Spain, marking its first independent power producer operation on the Iberian Peninsula.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.