She’s here.
SolarAfrica’s shiny new 500 MVA transformer has arrived and been successfully installed at the Aquila Main Transmission Substation (MTS) in our SunCentral solar farm, between Hanover and De Aar, Northern Cape.
Manufactured in Brazil and weighing a whopping 208.5 metric tonnes, the transformer travelled 986 km from Cape Town Harbour on a specialised trailer, under the watch of expert teams. Its installation marks a major milestone in developing SunCentral’s 132/400kV MTS, due for handover to Eskom in 2026. The substation, with capacity for up to 2 GW of green power, will ensure the electricity generated on-site is evacuated into the national grid and used for wheeling electricity to businesses across South Africa.
Electricity wheeling gives businesses access to cheaper, greener power. When combined with solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), it delivers even greater cost savings. Over the past decade, public and private sector collaboration has made energy wheeling in South Africa a reality, helping companies reduce costs through access to cheaper business electricity. SunCentral’s substation will serve to strengthen the national grid, demonstrating Eskom’s commitment to working with private sector players (like SolarAfrica!) to support South Africa’s communities with access to reliable power.
With electricity tariffs climbing year-on-year – including recently announced hikes of 12.74% for Eskom-direct customers and 11.32% for municipal users – the pressure on businesses is rising. Projects like SunCentral provide a vital release valve, helping companies take control of their energy spend through virtual power solutions.
With Phase 1 of SunCentral recently reaching financial close on its first 114 MW (part of the total 342 MW planned for the phase), the project is well underway. SolarAfrica has contributed R1 billion to the MTS, while the solar installation adds a further R4 billion to the R5 billion total. This significant investment underpins our commitment to strengthening South Africa’s energy infrastructure, boosting grid resilience and enabling wheeling agreements that give businesses access to cheaper energy rates.
Of course, a project of this scale is only possible through collaboration. WEG and Tembo HLT managed the transformer’s transport logistics, while EPC firm Proconics handled the vehicles and installation of the substation. SolarAfrica’s track record and integrated in-house teams provide assurance that wheeling electricity projects are delivered to the highest standards.
With companies across the data centre, commercial, industrial and energy trading sectors already signed up to receive power from SunCentral, it’s clear the appetite for the cost and environmental benefits of power wheeling is growing. With Phases 2 and 3 in the pipeline and sign-ups on a first-come, first-served basis, businesses are encouraged to secure a wheeling agreement (Virtual Power Purchase Agreement) with SolarAfrica today to unlock cheaper electricity rates and environmental benefits.
