UAE’s AMEA Power to build 120MW solar project in South Africa

AMEA Power, Dubai-based developer, owner and operator of renewable energy, has been awarded a 120 megawatts (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) project in South Africa.

The Doornhoek PV project will sell electricity to state utility Eskom, under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

The solar project located near the town of Klerksdorp in the north west province, will generate more than 325GWh of clean energy annually and power around 25,000 households. The project in totality is expected to offset 290,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The construction of the Doornhoek PV Project will commence by mid-2023, and will make use of more than 45 percent of locally sourced materials and resources.

#AMEAPower, has been awarded a 120MW #solar PV project in #SouthAfrica as part of the 6th Bid Submission REIPPP Program. The $120m Doornhoek Project will sell electricity to the state utility, #Eskom, under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement. Learn more: https://t.co/GVICLVSaRB pic.twitter.com/43YD6ukXRX

— AMEA Power (@AmeaPower) December 14, 2022

AMEA Power is the majority shareholder in the $120m project, and has partnered with a consortium wholly owned by African women, formed by Ziyanda Energy and Dzimuzwo Consulting, official news agency WAM reported.

The Dubai-based developer alongside its partners will form a community trust, which will own a share of the project, and contribute towards the economic development of communities close to the project.

“The awarding of this project, represents another major milestone for AMEA Power as it is our first in South Africa and was granted in competition with other major renewable energy players,” said Hussain Al Nowais, chairman of AMEA Power.

“Over the next decade, the country will undergo a massive transition in its approach to electricity generation as the network decommissions large amounts of coal generation and adopts cleaner solutions like wind and solar. AMEA Power aims to bring many more clean energy projects onto the grid to help address the energy shortfall, and provide clean, affordable energy to the country in the long term.”

South Africa aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix from 11 per cent to 41 per cent by 2030 to reduce carbon emissions and provide energy stability across its electricity network. The country also plans to decommission between 8GW and 12GW of coal fired power plants over the next decade.

AMEA Power has a secured a number of sites suitable for the development of a further 1GW of renewable energy projects in South Africa, which it will bid into future REIPPP Programmes.

It is also exploring opportunities with a number of commercial and industrial entities across South Africa to provide them with access to renewable energy, the statement added.

AMEA Power is expanding its investments in wind, solar, energy storage and green hydrogen, and has a clean energy pipeline of over 6GW across 16 countries.