6.35 MW Shumbasolve Phase 2 Solar Plant

Shumbasolve has launched the 6.35 MW Shumbasolve Phase 2 Solar Plant, delivering about 9.98 GWh/y of generation and incorporating a 4.48 MWh battery energy storage system to supply operations at Highveld Industrial Park in South Africa, and avoid approximately 6,000 t/y of CO2 emissions.

Shumbasolve Phase 1 Solar Plant, a 3.6 MW installation commissioned in 2024 alongside a 1 MVA gas-to-power unit, produces about 6.8 GWh/y. Together, the two phases are estimated to avoid roughly 13,000 t/y of CO2, MPower CEO JZ Moolman said.

Moolman said Shumbasolve intends to add about 15 MWh of battery storage capacity to the site next year. He added that MPower, working with SolarAfrica, has secured a 300 ha site at Highveld Industrial Park to develop a further 184 MW Solar Plant paired with 210 MWh of storage.

The development is led by Shumbasolve, a partnership between Moolman Group's MPower Energy, Highveld Industrial Park and financier Fledge Capital. Phase 2 is positioned to strengthen onsite energy security by reducing the park's dependence on external generation.

"To make our economy grow, we need to have cheaper electricity and I think the only way that we are going to achieve that is by building these large-scale renewable-energy plants in South Africa to open our economy to growth, he said.

"Highveld cannot be viewed as pieces in isolation. It's something that has to work together. Working together meant understanding the right strategy to implement and the right infrastructure to put in and this is one of those pieces of infrastructure which is very important. Having the right partners has also been an important part of our journey, she said