EXSA Reaches Commercial Operation Date for 25MW Allocation at Ilikwa Solar Facility in South Africa

Energy Exchange of Southern Africa (EXSA), one of South Africa’s first licensed energy traders, has reached Commercial Operation Date (COD) for its 25MW allocation from the Ilikwa PV Facility near Parys in the Free State.

The milestone marks the commencement of commercial electricity supply from the 50MW solar project, which was developed by Mainstream Renewable Power and is jointly owned by Mainstream Renewable Power, with a 70% stake, and Investec, with the remaining 30%.

Under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Mainstream Renewable Power, EXSA will procure all electricity generated from its 25MW allocation, representing a 50% share of the facility’s capacity. The electricity will be wheeled directly to EXSA’s commercial and industrial customers.

The Ilikwa project becomes the third solar generation site in EXSA’s portfolio, adding geographic diversity to its renewable energy supply base and complementing its two existing solar facilities in South Africa’s Western Cape.

“Reaching COD on this offtake with Mainstream is a strong signal of how quickly South Africa’s private electricity market is maturing. It gives our commercial and industrial customers direct access to reliable, competitively priced solar power, while supporting the country’s broader shift toward a more flexible and secure energy system,” said Wayne Cowie, CEO of EXSA.

EXSA’s 25MW allocation is expected to generate more than 70 GWh of clean electricity annually. The full 50MW Ilikwa PV Facility is expected to produce more than 140 GWh of renewable electricity each year through more than 101,000 PV modules.

The facility is projected to avoid approximately 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, contributing to South Africa’s wider decarbonisation objectives.

Project Created More Than 2,600 Jobs During Construction

Construction of the Ilikwa PV Facility began in October 2024 and was completed over a 21-month period. At its peak, the project created employment for more than 2,600 people, with the majority recruited from neighbouring communities including Tumahole, Schonkenville and Vredefort.

The project also placed an emphasis on local procurement and enterprise development throughout the construction phase, supporting economic participation in surrounding communities.

EXSA Chief Commercial Officer Retief Ferreira said the project reflects growing demand from South African businesses for more flexible electricity procurement arrangements.

“This offtake reflects the growing appetite among South African businesses for flexible, shorter-term supply agreements that give them cost certainty without long-term lock-in. It’s a model we expect to see more of as the private electricity market matures,” Ferreira said.

Mainstream Renewable Power also highlighted the significance of the project’s commercial milestone.

“Bringing 50MW of solar power online at Ilikwa, with 25MW dedicated to EXSA, is an exciting achievement for everyone involved. This milestone reflects our shared vision for sustainable growth and energy security in South Africa. We value EXSA’s partnership and look forward to delivering long-term, clean power to their operations,” said Hein Reyneke, General Manager at Mainstream South Africa.

EXSA is a market-leading supplier of grid-connected renewable energy. The company purchases renewable electricity in bulk through long-term agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) and generators before reselling the power to commercial and industrial customers.

The commencement of operations at Ilikwa strengthens EXSA’s renewable energy portfolio while providing its customers with additional access to competitively priced, reliable and lower-carbon electricity.