South African clean energy company SolarAfrica has acquired the Nyakallo utility-scale solar and battery storage project from Norsk Renewables in a move that strengthens its renewable energy presence across sub-Saharan Africa. The project is located in Limpopo province, South Africa, and is expected to support businesses looking for reliable and cost-effective alternatives to the country’s unstable power grid and increasing electricity prices.
The Nyakallo project is situated around 13 kilometers west of Lephalale near the Grootegeluk Coal Mine. The location is considered strategically important because it lies within one of Eskom’s major transmission corridors, making grid connectivity easier and more effective for large-scale power distribution. The project has already crossed several important development stages, including securing grid connection approvals, environmental permits, and initial engineering designs.
Once completed, the project is expected to generate up to 315 MW of solar power and will also include battery energy storage systems. The addition of battery storage is aimed at ensuring stable and reliable electricity supply even during periods when solar generation is lower. SolarAfrica and Norsk Renewables will continue to work together over the next year to take the project to financial close before construction activities officially begin.
According to current plans, electricity supply from the Nyakallo facility is expected to commence during the second half of 2028. The project is expected to play an important role in improving energy reliability for commercial and industrial consumers in South Africa, where power shortages and load-shedding continue to impact business operations.
SolarAfrica plans to introduce a flexible electricity purchasing model for the project. The company’s CEO, David McDonald, stated that the structure will combine large corporate customers with independent energy traders that purchase energy capacity. This system is designed to provide an alternative to traditional long-term power purchase agreements by offering more flexible energy solutions to businesses of different sizes.
The acquisition also marks a major milestone for SolarAfrica’s regional growth strategy. With the addition of Nyakallo, the company’s utility-scale renewable energy pipeline has now reached nearly 1.5 GW in advanced development stages across sub-Saharan Africa. SolarAfrica is backed by the French sustainable investment firm Mirova, which continues to support the company’s expansion in the commercial and industrial renewable energy market.
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