South Africa is rapidly solidifying its position as a leader in Africa’s renewable energy transition, exemplified by the financial close of the 475-MWac/620-MWdc Notsi solar project.
This monumental undertaking, spearheaded by Anthem, a newly established renewables platform, is set to become the largest solar facility in South Africa. Located in the Free State, the project will span over 1,000 hectares and incorporate more than 860,000 solar panels .
The financing for the Notsi project underscores robust investor confidence in South Africa’s renewable sector. A consortium of prominent lenders and arrangers, including Standard Bank, Nedbank, ABSA, Vantage GreenX Note III, and Third Way Investment Partners, has secured the necessary capital. This collaborative financial backing highlights the growing appetite for large-scale green energy initiatives within the region .
A key innovation of the Notsi project is its adoption of a multi-offtaker wheeling model. This mechanism will allow the plant’s output to be transmitted across Eskom’s national grid, supplying commercial and industrial customers through energy traders like Discovery Green and NOA under long-term agreements of 20 years or more. Once operational, the Notsi plant is projected to generate approximately 1,500 GWh of clean electricity annually, sufficient to power around 140,000 homes .
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Anthem, acting as the lead investor, developer, generator, and long-term operator, with Reatile Group as an equity partner, anticipates completing construction within 26 months. The selection of a China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC) – Northwest Electric Power Design Institute (NWEPDI) joint venture as the EPC contractor further emphasizes the international collaboration driving Africa’s energy future.
This project not only signifies a substantial boost to South Africa’s energy security but also sets a precedent for innovative financing and operational models in the continent’s burgeoning renewable energy market .
By Thuita Gatero, Managing Editor, Africa Digest News. He specializes in conversations around data centers, AI, cloud infrastructure, and energy.
