The top 50 largest solar PV plants in Africa reflects the progress and scale of the various African solar markets, with South Africa and Algeria taking leading positions.
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In preparation of the Unlocking Solar Capital: Africa conference taking place November 1-2 in Nairobi, Kenya, Solarplaza is presenting you with an overview of the dynamic large scale solar PV landscape in Africa. We have gathered data and composed a list of the 50 largest grid-connected operational PV projects in Africa. The overview provides valuable insights into what the market situation looks like in terms of scale; which countries are leading the way or might be rising stars; and which organizations are responsible for the development.
The Top 50 is presented below:
| # | Project Name | Size* | Country | Developer | Owner | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solar Capital De Aar 3 | 90 | South Africa | Solar Capital | Solar Capital, Shapoorji Pallonji, Community Trust, Moncada Energy Group, Tirisano Renewables, ZIM Capital | Link |
| 2 | High Plateuas East, Adrar | 90 | Algeria | Sinohydro Corp (PowerChina), Yingli Green Energy Holding, HydroChina – Three party consortium | SKTM (Sonelgaz) | Link |
| 3 | High Plateaus Centre, Adrar | 90 | Algeria | Sinohydro Corp (PowerChina), Yingli Green Energy Holding, HydroChina – Three party consortium | SKTM (Sonelgaz) | Link |
| 4 | Mulilo-Sonnedix-Prieska | 86 | South Africa | juwi Renewable Energies | Sonnedix | Link |
| 5 | Solar Capital De Aar | 85 | South Africa | Solar Capital | Solar Capital, Moncada Energy Group, PIC, Community Trust, Fifth Season | Link |
| 6 | High Plateaus West, Adrar | 85 | Algeria | Belectric | SKTM (Sonelgaz) | Link |
| 7 | Paleisheuwel | 82.5 | South Africa | Terni Energia Spa, Enel Green Power Spa | Electra Capital, Enel Green Power | Link |
| 8 | Kathu (Solar Energy Facility 1) | 82 | South Africa | Building Energy | Renewable Energy Investments South Africa (REISA), Building Energy | Link |
| 9 | Jasper Solar Energy Project | 75 | South Africa | SolarReserve | SolarReserve, Google Inc | Link |
| 10 | Kalkbult | 75 | South Africa | Scatec Solar ASA | Scatec Solar ASA, Norfund, Simacel, Standard Bank, Old Mutual | Link |
| 11 | Lesedi | 75 | South Africa | SolarReserve | SolarReserve | Link |
| 12 | Letsatsi | 75 | South Africa | SolarReserve | SolarReserve | Link |
| 13 | Dreunberg | 75 | South Africa | Scatec Solar ASA | Norfund, Scatec Solar ASA, KLP, Standard Bank South Africa, Simacel | Link |
| 14 | Sishen | 74 | South Africa | Acciona Energia SA | Acciona Energia SA (51%), Aveng Group, Aveng (Africa) Limited (29%), Soul City Broad-Based Empowerment Company (SCBBEC) (10%), Community (10%) | Link |
| 15 | Tom Burke Solar Park | 66 | South Africa | TerniEnergia | Enel Green Power | Link |
| 16 | Boshoff | 60 | South Africa | SunEdison | SunEdison – 51%, Nehawu Investment Holdings (NIH) – 20%, Public Investment Corporation – 19%, Community Trust – 10% | Link |
| 17 | High Plateaus South-West, Adrar | 53 | Algeria | Sinohydro Corp (PowerChina), Yingli Green Energy Holding, HydroChina – Three party consortium | SKTM (Sonelgaz) | Link |
| 18 | De Aar Solar Power | 50 | South Africa | South Africa Mainstream Renewable Power De Aar PV | Mainstream Renewable Power, Globeleq, Thebe Investment Corp, Enzani Technologies, Usizo Engineering | Link |
| 19 | Droogfontein | 50 | South Africa | South Africa Mainstream Renewable Power Droogfontein (Proprietary) Ltd | Mainstream Renewable Power, Thebe Investment Corporation, Enzani Technologies, Usizo Engineering, Community, Globeleq | Link |
| 20 | Linde | 40 | South Africa | Scatec Solar ASA | Scatec, Norfund, KLP, Old Mutual Life Assurance Company, Standard Bank South Africa | Link |
| 21 | Witkop | 30 | South Africa | Core Energy (SunEdison) | SunEdison, CHINT Group, Public Investment Corporation (PIC), Kurisani Youth Development Trust, Standard Bank, Futuregrowth Asset Management | Link |
| 22 | Soutpan | 28 | South Africa | Erika Energy (SunEdison) | SunEdison, CHINT Group, Public Investment Corporation (PIC), Kurisani Youth Development Trust, Standard Bank, Futuregrowth Asset Management | Link |
| 23 | Herbert | 22 | South Africa | SunPower, AE-AMD Renewable Energy | SunPower, IDEAS Fund, Old Mutual Life Assurance Company, AE-AMD Renewable Energy | Link |
| 24 | Mulilo Prieska Copperton Solar PV Plant | 20 | South Africa | Mulilo Renewable Energy | Mulilo Renewable Energy | Link |
| 25 | Gomoa Onyandze | 20 | Ghana | BXC | BXC | Link |
| 26 | Adrar | 20 | Algeria | – | – | Link |
| 27 | Sheikh Zayed Solar Power Plant | 15 | Mauritania | Masdar PV | Société Mauritanienne de l’électricité (SOMELEC) | Link |
| 28 | Souk-Ahras | 15 | Algeria | Sinohydro Corp (PowerChina), Yingli Green Energy Holding, HydroChina – Three party consortium | SKTM (Sonelgaz) | Link |
| 29 | Greefspan | 11.2 | South Africa | SunPower, AE-AMD Renewable Energy | SunPower, IDEAS Fund, Old Mutual Life Assurance Company, AE-AMD Renewable Energy | Link |
| 30 | Aries Solar | 10 | South Africa | BioTherm Energy & Juwi AG | BioTherm Energy, Ikamva Labantu Empowerment Trust, Malibongwe Womens Development Trust, Aries Solar Facility Community Trust | Link |
| 31 | Konkoonsies | 10 | South Africa | BioTherm Energy & Juwi AG | BioTherm Energy, Ikamva Labantu Empowerment Trust, Malibongwe Womens Development Trust, Konkoonsies Solar Facility Community Trust | Link |
| 32 | Mulilo Renewable Energy PV De Aar | 10 | South Africa | Mulilo Renewable Energy | Mulilo Renewable Energy | Link |
| 33 | Siwa Solar PV plant | 10 | Egypt | Masdar PV | – | Link |
| 34 | Timimoune | 9 | Algeria | – | – | Link |
| 35 | Upington | 8.9 | South Africa | Enel Green Power Spa | Enel Green Power Spa / Sharp Corp | Link |
| 36 | Vredendal Solar Power Park | 8.8 | South Africa | Solairedirect | Solairedirect, Jay & Jayendra, Vredendal Solar Community Trust | Link |
| 37 | Rwamagana Solar Power Station | 8.5 | Rwanda | Scatec Solar ASA, Gigawatt Global Cooperatief U.A. | FMO, EAIF, Norfund, Scatec Solar ASA, KLP, Gigawatt Global | Link |
| 38 | RustMo1 | 7 | South Africa | Juwi AG | Momentous Energy, Momentous Foundation Community Trust, Inspired Evolution Investment Management | Link |
| 39 | Zaouiet Kounta | 6 | Algeria | – | – | Link |
| 40 | SlimSun Swartland | 5 | South Africa | Juwi AG, Slimsun, Franco Afrique Technologies | Inspired Evolution Investment Management, Slimsun, Franco Afrique Technologies, Swartland Solar Community Trust | Link |
| 41 | Santiago Island Solar Park | 5 | Cape Verde | Martifer Solar | Government of Cape Verde | Link |
| 42 | Otjozondjupa Solar Park | 5 | Namibia | HopSol | NamPower | Link |
| 43 | Reggane | 5 | Algeria | – | – | Link |
| 44 | Aoulef | 5 | Algeria | – | – | Link |
| 45 | Otjiwarongo/Omburu Solar Park | 4.5 | Namibia | Innosun Energy Holdings, HopSol | Innosun Energy Holdings, HopSol | Link |
| 46 | Tsabit | 3 | Algeria | – | – | Link |
| 47 | Navrongo | 2.5 | Ghana | Volta River Authority (VRA) | Volta River Authority (VRA), KfW | Link |
| 48 | Lethabo | 1.55 | South Africa | Eskom Holdings | Eskom Holdings | Link |
| 49 | Ghardaïa | 1.1 | Algeria | Sonelgaz | – | Link |
| 50 | Changoi Tea Farm | 1 | Kenya | Solarcentury Holdings | Williamson Tea | Link |
Source: Solarplaza
