Mulilo Achieves Financial Close on 380 MW Beaufort West Solar Project in South Africa

Mulilo has achieved financial close on the 380 MWDC Beaufort West Solar PV project, one of the largest utility-scale solar developments in South Africa. The project is located near Beaufort West and marks the company’s first renewable energy project in the Western Cape province.

The facility will have an installed capacity of 380 MWDC with a contracted export capacity of 250 MWAC and will be connected to the Droërivier transmission substation, ensuring integration into the national grid.

This development represents Mulilo’s fourth project to reach financial close in 2026, following the Orkney Solar PV project in the North West Province and the Middlepunt Solar PV and Mercury battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the Free State. With the addition of the Beaufort West project, the company has surpassed its annual deployment target of 1 GW, expanding its total renewable energy portfolio to over 2 GW across operational and under-construction assets.

Once operational, the solar facility is expected to generate approximately 818 GWh of electricity annually, supplying power to commercial and industrial customers under a long-term power purchase agreement with NOA. The project is also projected to offset around 860,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year and supply electricity equivalent to the needs of approximately 345,000 households.

The project has been supported by shareholders Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Norfund, along with financing and advisory partners including Absa, Standard Bank, Investec, Nedbank, Bowmans, PepperTree Capital, Fasken, and Arup.

Commenting on the milestone, Jan Fourie stated that the project underscores the company’s commitment to advancing South Africa’s energy transition through large-scale renewable deployments. Karel Cornelissen highlighted the strength of the partnership, noting that the deal expands NOA’s renewable portfolio to nearly 1.5 GW across development and construction stages.

The project reflects growing momentum in South Africa’s renewable energy sector, driven by increasing demand for reliable, long-term clean power solutions from commercial and industrial consumers.