Infinity Power has awarded AIKO Energy three module supply contracts totaling 773.5 MWp for utility-scale solar projects in South Africa. The deal extends an existing partnership that now exceeds 2 GWp of AIKO module supply across Infinity’s African portfolio.
The projects
The modules will deploy across three REIPPPP Bid Window 7 assets:
- Highveld Solar PV – 285.6 MWp in Mpumalanga (EPC: Sterling & Wilson)
- Ngwedi Cluster – 488 MWp in the Free State, comprising Onderstepoort Solar 1 (261.8 MWp) and Solar 2 (226.1 MWp) (EPC: PowerChina Guizhou)
Combined, these sites will feed approximately 467,000 homes and displace more than 1.6 million tonnes of CO₂ annually once operational.
Why AIKO ABC modules
Infinity Power selected AIKO’s All-Back-Contact (ABC) high-power modules after technical and financial due diligence. ABC architecture eliminates front-side busbars, raising active cell area and module efficiency. For utility-scale developers, this translates into:
- Higher energy yield per hectare
- Lower balance-of-system costs (fewer racks, trackers, and cabling per MW)
- Improved performance in high-temperature and low-irradiance conditions
The South Africa award follows a 1.2 GWp ABC module supply deal for Infinity’s Nefer Minya project in Egypt, signed at the Africa Energy Forum in June 2026.
The commercial logic
Infinity Power operates a 1.3 GW operational portfolio and targets 10 GW by 2032. Securing module supply at this scale achieves three objectives:
- Bankability – Long-term supply agreements with tier-1 manufacturers reduce execution risk for lenders.
- Cost certainty – Fixed pricing on high-efficiency modules protects project IRRs against supply-chain volatility.
- Standardization – Deploying the same technology across multiple sites simplifies O&M, spare-parts logistics, and performance guarantees.
What this means for South Africa’s build-out
REIPPPP Bid Window 7 moved slowly through contracting and financial close. Infinity’s simultaneous EPC and module awards signal that at least two projects have crossed the internal investment gate and are ready for construction mobilization.
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The choice of Chinese modules reflects a broader market reality: African developers prioritize price per watt and bankable performance over origin. AIKO’s ABC technology competes directly with TOPCon and HJT on efficiency and degradation rates, giving Infinity a technical edge in a competitive PPA environment.
South Africa needs every megawatt of private solar that can reach commercial operation before the next load-shedding season. Infinity’s 773.5 MWp will not solve the crisis alone. But it proves that private capital, tier-1 technology, and disciplined EPC partnerships can move at pace when developers de-risk projects early.
