South Africa based renewable energy independent power producer Mulilo has reached financial close on the 380 megawatts (MW) Beaufort West Solar PV facility located near Beaufort West in the Western Cape province. The project is set to be one of South Africa’s largest utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants.
The project has an installed capacity of 380 MWDC and a contracted export capacity of 250 MWAC. It will connect to the Droërivier main transmission substation, allowing for efficient integration into the national grid. Power generated by the facility will be sold to energy trading company NOA via a multi-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
The Beaufort West Solar project marks Mulilo’s fourth project to reach financial close in 2026, following the successful closure of the Orkney Solar PV project located in the North West Province, as well as the Middlepunt Solar PV and Mercury BESS projects in the Free State.
“The Beaufort West Solar PV project is Mulilo’s first renewable energy project in the Western Cape Province and stands as a testament to Mulilo’s unwavering commitment to driving South Africa’s energy transition,” said Jan Fourie, CEO of Mulilo.
“We are pleased to have worked alongside NOA to bring this project to financial close, with a shared commitment to quality and long-term value creation. By delivering reliable, clean power at scale, we are not only addressing the country’s immediate energy needs but also paving the way for a sustainable and prosperous future,” added Fourie.
Once operational, the Beaufort West Solar facility is expected to generate approximately 818 GWh of clean electricity annually. Furthermore, the facility will help avoid approximately 860,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions per year and generate enough electricity to power approximately 345,000 households annually.
Karel Cornelissen, Group Chief Executive Officer at NOA commented saying; “With this transaction, NOA’s diversified portfolio now approaches 1.5 GW of generation capacity in construction and development across owned assets and strategic offtake partnerships, enabling us to connect reliable renewable energy to commercial and industrial customers that need certainty and long-term supply.”
Mulilo highlighted that the success of the project as made possible through the support of its shareholders, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Norfund, as well as close collaboration with its funding, legal and advisory partners— including Absa, Standard Bank, Investec and Nedbank, as well as Bowmans, PepperTree Capital, Fasken and Arup.
