Scatec ASA, has started commercial operation of two solar energy projects in Botswana and South Africa.
Within a week of announcing the start-up of the 273 MW Grootfontein solar power plant in South Africa, the renewable energy developer sent out notice of the commencement of the Botswana facility, the second 60 MW phase of the 120 MW Mmadinare Solar Cluster
Scatec is a Norwegian firm, but it is arguably Africa’s most enthusiastic single renewable energy provider.
- The Grootfontein solar power plant, located in Witzenberg Local Municipality, Cape Winelands District, in the country’s Western Cape, “will generate predictable revenues from a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA)”, Scatec says. The company claims that Grootfontein is the first solar project to reach Commercial Operation Date (COD) under the Bid Round 5 of South Africa’s 13 year old Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) Programme. The plant is expected to generate 700 GWh of clean energy annually, leading to an estimated abatement of 630,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, “making it the largest co-located solar PV cluster in the Western Cape”. Scatec owns 51% of the equity in the project, H1 Holdings, the local Black Economic Empowerment partner owns 46.5% and the Grootfontein Local Community Trust owns 2.5%. Scatec will provide Operation & Maintenance and Asset Management services to the power plants.
- The Mmadinare Solar Cluster is Scatec’s first project portfolio in Botswana, where the first phase has been operational since March 2025. It is sited near the Motloutse River and Letsibogo Dam, about 15 kilometres from the mining town of Selebi-Phikwe, in the Central District. The power plant will generate predictable revenues from a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Botswana Power Corporation, the national utility. Scatec owns 100% of the project portfolio, but expects to reduce its long-term economic interest by inviting additional equity partners. “We are honoured to operate the country’s first utility scale solar PV facility – and contribute to Botswana’s long term energy ambitions.” says Alberto Gambacorta, Scatec’s EVP and GM for Sub-Saharan Africa.
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