Acciona.org Unveils Its First School Electrification Project in South Africa

The Acciona.org Foundation has marked its debut in South Africa with the inauguration of a solar-plus-storage facility at Bakerville Primary School in Gouda. This new 19.8kWp photovoltaic plant, paired with a 20.4kWh battery, ensures a stable, clean, and affordable electricity supply for the school’s over 650 students.

Previously, Bakerville Primary faced challenges due to unreliable electricity, which disrupted classes and affected the use of educational equipment. The new system aims to provide uninterrupted power, enhancing the learning environment and reducing operational costs for the school.

The project received crucial support from ACCIONA Energía, which operates the nearby 138MW Gouda wind farm—sufficient to power 200,000 South African homes.

This initiative is Acciona.org’s first venture in South Africa, a country where over 6.5 million people still lack reliable electricity access. In 2022 alone, South Africa experienced approximately 150 days of power outages due to grid overloads, contributing to higher energy costs.

Acciona.org is committed to expanding universal electricity access through sustainable models, including off-grid and microgrid photovoltaic systems with energy storage. These projects are managed and maintained by local technicians to ensure long-term reliability.

In addition to this South African project, Acciona.org is also active in Ethiopia, where it is collaborating with other Spanish organizations to provide electricity services to around 14,000 people, including refugees and host communities.