RustMo1 Solar Project Marks a Decade of Clean Energy Production, Pioneering South Africa’s Renewable Landscape

Celebrating a significant milestone, the RustMo1 Solar Project commemorates ten years of operation, marking its foundational role as South Africa’s pioneering renewable energy project under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REI4P).

As the first renewable energy venture developed through South Africa’s extensive renewables tender program, RustMo1, boasting a capacity of 7 megawatts (MW), has annually generated approximately 12.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. This production capacity has significantly powered numerous low-income homes, serving as a cornerstone in South Africa’s energy transition efforts and addressing the prevailing energy crisis.

The project’s success serves as a blueprint for a successful clean energy private-public partnership model in Africa. Momentous Energy initially developed RustMo1 and later partnered with Reatile Renewables. The site, situated 22 kilometers from Rustenburg across 19 hectares, operates under JUWI Renewable Energies South Africa, in collaboration with national utility Eskom and the IPP Office. Funding for the project was facilitated by The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) and Nedbank.

Dr. Pravin Semnarayan, CEO of Momentous Energy, highlighted the project’s significance in pioneering financial close and project agreements that continue to influence the independent power producers (IPP) industry today. The collaboration involved deep commitment and coordination from various institutions dedicated to advancing the country’s energy transition over the past decade.

Richard Doyle, Managing Director of JUWI Renewable Energies, emphasized the project’s innovative solutions, particularly in establishing grid codes for solar plants connecting to the national grid, working in tandem with the Renewable Energy Technical Evaluation Committee (RETEC).

Beyond clean energy, RustMo1 has profoundly impacted community and skills development initiatives, including women’s empowerment. Ramona Mohanlall, COO of RustMo1, highlighted the project’s community trust, allocating 17% of dividends to support early childhood education, provide meals during the pandemic, and enhance facilities in local schools.

The project’s impact on skill development and women’s empowerment stories, exemplified by Dimakatso Chunda’s journey from a junior security guard to a Security Supervisor, underscore RustMo1’s commitment to personal and professional growth opportunities.

Sunette Smith, Portfolio Executive at Reatile Group, expressed pride in contributing to RustMo1’s legacy, citing the project’s benchmark-setting role for other IPP projects in the REI4P.

JUWI’s commitment continues as the project enters its next decade, projecting an additional 110 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy generation, significantly reducing carbon emissions by around 66,000 tonnes, equivalent to nearly 24 million litres of diesel consumed.

Doyle emphasized the project’s foundational impact on both the team and South Africa, heralding it as the first of many ventures developed, constructed, or operated for the country’s grid. The project’s success stands as an inspiration for the evolution of the national renewables procurement program in the years to come.