SOLA Group

SOLA Group is a South African renewable-energy company headquartered in Cape Town. Founded in 2008 by brothers Simon and Chris Haw, the business began as Aurora Power Solutions, or APS, and initially focused on developing utility-scale solar projects. It later combined with the customer-focused SOLA Future Energy business to form SOLA Group. The company develops, finances, constructs, owns and operates renewable-energy generation and storage assets, with a particular emphasis on supplying private corporate customers through power purchase agreements and wheeling arrangements. SOLA’s business model is built around connecting privately developed renewable generators to commercial and industrial customers through South Africa’s electricity grid. In an on-site arrangement, a project supplies a customer at or near its premises. In a wheeling arrangement, electricity generated at one location is transported through the national grid to a customer’s facilities elsewhere, with the relevant network charges and contractual allocations applied. This model enables large companies with geographically dispersed operations to purchase renewable electricity without owning generation facilities at every site. The company entered utility-scale solar development in 2010 and worked with Biotherm Energy under a joint development agreement that contributed to successful bids in the first round of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. SOLA subsequently expanded beyond government-led procurement into privately contracted infrastructure. It became the first independent power producer in South Africa to receive a generation licence for a private utility-scale power plant outside the public procurement process, and later financed and implemented major private wheeling projects. A key turning point came in November 2021, when SOLA enabled the first large-scale wheeling of renewable electricity in South Africa through the 10 MW Adams Solar PV Project. The plant supplied Amazon Web Services infrastructure and demonstrated that privately contracted renewable generation could be delivered across the national grid. Adams was developed on land in the Northern Cape and included a 45% ownership interest by Mahlako Energy Fund, alongside local economic participation opportunities. In late 2020, African Rainbow Energy and Power, founded by Patrice Motsepe, acquired a 40% stake in SOLA and became its largest single shareholder. The founding shareholders nevertheless retained control at the time described in the reference material. The investment supported SOLA’s expansion in private renewable generation and energy wheeling. SOLA’s project portfolio has grown across all nine South African provinces and into Namibia, Seychelles and Mozambique. Its projects include solar generation facilities, hybrid solar-and-battery systems and standalone battery installations. Major developments include the 256 MW Selemela Solar Park in North West, which entered operation in 2024 as South Africa’s largest operational wheeling project at that time, and the Springbok Solar Power Project in the Free State, which began commercial operations in 2025. Springbok was described as Africa’s first multi-buyer, flexible energy-wheeling facility and supplied a group of corporate purchasers including Amazon, Rio Tinto, Redefine, Old Mutual, Vodacom, BRM Brands, Sasol and Afrimat. In February 2026, SOLA reached financial close on Naos-1, a planned 300 MW, or 435 MWp, solar photovoltaic facility paired with 660 MWh of battery storage. The project was designed for wheeling to private end-users and had long-term power purchase agreement customers including Sasol and Air Liquide. Its target commercial operation date was 2028. The hybrid configuration is intended to store surplus solar production and dispatch electricity during periods of higher demand, improving the usefulness of solar generation for industrial customers. The company serves customers and partners across mining, manufacturing, retail, property, financial services, telecommunications, consumer goods and government. Referenced customers include African Rainbow Minerals, Amazon, Air Liquide, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, Eskom, Growthpoint Properties, Old Mutual, PepsiCo, Pick n Pay, Redefine Properties, Sasol, Vodacom, Woolworths and others. By 2026, the reference material described SOLA as having built more than 100 private renewable wheeling projects in four countries and operating approximately 700 MW of private renewable production, while its operational wheeling portfolio was separately described as 464 MWp after Springbok entered commercial operation.

SOLA Group was established in 2008 by brothers Simon and Chris Haw under the name Aurora Power Solutions. The early company operated in the emerging South African renewable-energy market and moved into utility-scale solar development in 2010. It entered a joint development agreement with Biotherm Energy, a relationship that contributed to successful bids in the first round of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. Dom Chennells and Dom Wills joined the business as early employees and shareholders. The company later expanded its focus from project development to a broader private-energy model. Aurora Power Solutions merged with SOLA Future Energy, a subsidiary focused on serving private customers, creating SOLA Group. The resulting business combined utility-scale generation capabilities with customer contracting, distributed energy and energy-management expertise. SOLA developed several early solar and storage projects, including the Aries facility in the Northern Cape in 2011 and Konkoonsies 1 in 2014. It also developed battery installations for locations such as Robben Island, Cedar Mill shopping centre, Cousine Island in the Seychelles and a PepsiCo facility in Johannesburg. These projects helped establish the company’s capabilities beyond conventional solar generation. In late 2020, African Rainbow Energy and Power acquired a 40% shareholding in SOLA. The investment made AREP the largest single shareholder, while the founding shareholders continued to control the company at the time described by the reference material. The transaction occurred as South Africa’s regulatory environment was becoming more receptive to privately developed power generation and corporate electricity procurement. A major milestone followed in November 2021 with the Adams Solar PV Project. The 10 MW facility enabled the first large-scale wheeling of renewable electricity in South Africa, supplying Amazon Web Services infrastructure. The project was built on approximately 20 hectares in the Northern Cape and was 45% owned by Mahlako Energy Fund. It also incorporated opportunities for local women and businesses. Adams established a practical model for connecting independent renewable generation with corporate demand through the national grid. SOLA subsequently increased the scale and geographic reach of its wheeling portfolio. The Selemela Solar Park, built in Lichtenburg in North West, was commissioned in 2024 and was described as South Africa’s largest operational wheeling project. Its 256 MW of generation supplies five Tronox sites across the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal and is expected to meet about 40% of Tronox’s total electricity requirements. The project was notable because it was developed outside the Northern Cape, traditionally viewed as South Africa’s strongest solar region, after grid constraints made alternative locations more important. A further 126 MW solar project was developed in the Selemela cluster for African Rainbow Minerals. In 2025, SOLA brought the Springbok Solar Power Project in the Free State into commercial operation. The project can produce approximately 430 GWh annually at full capacity and was reported to be capable of supplying the equivalent of about 150,000 homes while avoiding roughly 399,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Amazon served as the anchor purchaser, with Rio Tinto, Redefine, Old Mutual, Vodacom, BRM Brands, Sasol and Afrimat among the other buyers. Springbok was presented as Africa’s first multi-buyer, flexible energy-wheeling facility and increased SOLA’s operational portfolio to 464 MWp according to the reference material. In February 2026, SOLA reached financial close on Naos-1, a planned hybrid facility in the Free State. Naos-1 combines a 300 MW, or 435 MWp, solar photovoltaic plant with 660 MWh of battery energy storage. The project was designed and implemented by SOLA for wheeling to private end-users, with Sasol and Air Liquide identified as long-term power purchase agreement customers. It was described as South Africa’s largest privately contracted hybrid renewable project to reach financial close and the country’s first utility-scale solar-and-battery project purpose-built for wheeling across the grid to private customers. Target commercial operation was set for 2028. By 2026, SOLA’s stated footprint included more than 100 private renewable wheeling projects across all nine South African provinces, Namibia, Seychelles and Mozambique. The reference material described the company as operating approximately 700 MW of private renewable production, while also identifying a 464 MWp operational wheeling portfolio after Springbok. Its customer base spans mining, manufacturing, property, retail, consumer goods, banking, telecommunications, fuels and public-sector organizations. SOLA’s strategic role is to help large electricity users procure lower-carbon power while developing generation and storage assets that can operate within South Africa’s evolving grid and regulatory system.

• 2026

  Naos-1 reaches financial close

  [1]SOLA Groupen.wikipedia.org

  SOLA reached financial close on the 300 MW solar and 660 MWh battery Naos-1 project, targeted for operation in 2028.

• 2025

  Springbok enters commercial operation

  [1]SOLA Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Springbok Solar Power Project began commercial operations and became a multi-buyer flexible wheeling facility.

• 2024

  Selemela Solar Park commissioned

  [1]SOLA Groupen.wikipedia.org

  SOLA commissioned the 256 MW Selemela Solar Park in North West to serve Tronox facilities through wheeling.

• 2021

  First large-scale renewable wheeling project

  [1]SOLA Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 10 MW Adams Solar PV Project began supplying Amazon Web Services infrastructure through large-scale renewable electricity wheeling.

• 2020

  AREP takes a 40% shareholding

  [1]SOLA Groupen.wikipedia.org

  African Rainbow Energy and Power acquired a 40% stake and became SOLA’s largest single shareholder.

• 2014

  Konkoonsies 1 solar project

  [1]SOLA Groupen.wikipedia.org

  SOLA’s project list identifies Konkoonsies 1 in the Northern Cape as a 2014 solar facility.

• 2011

  Aries solar project

  [1]SOLA Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Aries solar generation facility was developed in South Africa’s Northern Cape.

• 2010

  Entry into utility-scale solar development

  [1]SOLA Groupen.wikipedia.org

  APS began developing utility-scale solar projects and entered a joint development agreement with Biotherm Energy.

• 2008

  Company founded as Aurora Power Solutions

  [1]SOLA Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Simon and Chris Haw founded the company in South Africa under the name Aurora Power Solutions, later abbreviated as APS.

A specialist renewable-energy infrastructure partner for corporate and industrial power users, differentiated by private utility-scale generation, grid wheeling, long-term power purchase agreements and integrated battery storage.

• Solar generation and renewable-energy wheeling · 2021

  Adams Solar PV Project

  A 10 MW solar project in the Northern Cape that supplied Amazon Web Services infrastructure through South Africa’s national grid. Adams was the project through which SOLA enabled the country’s first large-scale wheeling of renewable electricity. The facility was 45% owned by Mahlako Energy Fund and included local economic opportunities for women and businesses.

• Utility-scale solar and corporate wheeling · 2024

  Selemela Solar Park

  A 256 MW solar park in Lichtenburg, North West, developed to supply Tronox through the national grid. Electricity is wheeled to five Tronox sites across the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The project was described as South Africa’s largest operational wheeling project when commissioned and was significant for demonstrating large-scale development outside the Northern Cape.

• Multi-buyer solar wheeling · 2025

  Springbok Solar Power Project

  A Free State solar facility capable of generating approximately 430 GWh annually at full capacity. Its anchor purchaser is Amazon, while other reported buyers include Rio Tinto, Redefine, Old Mutual, Vodacom, BRM Brands, Sasol and Afrimat. SOLA described Springbok as Africa’s first multi-buyer, flexible energy-wheeling facility.

• Hybrid solar generation and battery storage · 2026

  Naos-1 Hybrid Solar and Battery Project

  A planned 300 MW, or 435 MWp, solar photovoltaic facility paired with 660 MWh of battery storage in the Free State. Naos-1 was designed specifically to wheel renewable electricity to private customers and has Sasol and Air Liquide as identified long-term power purchase agreement clients. Its battery is intended to shift solar output toward periods of stronger grid demand.

• Energy storage · 2017

  Battery energy storage systems

  SOLA develops and operates battery installations for commercial, industrial and island customers. Referenced installations include storage at Robben Island, Cedar Mill shopping centre, Cousine Island in Seychelles and a PepsiCo facility in Johannesburg. These systems complement solar generation and can improve energy resilience, flexibility and the timing of renewable power delivery.

• 2026

  Reach financial close on Naos-1Product launch

  Background

  Solar-only generation can be less aligned with evening demand and industrial customers require more predictable renewable supply.

  Action taken

  SOLA reached financial close on a 300 MW solar facility with 660 MWh of battery storage, contracted for wheeling to Sasol and Air Liquide.

  Aftermath

  Naos-1 was positioned as a major step toward dispatchable, privately contracted renewable power, with target commercial operation in 2028.

  Source

• 2024

  Develop Selemela outside the traditional Northern Cape solar hubGeneration change

  Background

  Transmission capacity in the Northern Cape became constrained, making it necessary to consider alternative regions for new large-scale solar generation.

  Action taken

  SOLA built the 256 MW Selemela Solar Park in North West and connected its output to Tronox sites in other provinces through wheeling.

  Aftermath

  The project demonstrated that large privately contracted solar and wheeling assets could be developed outside South Africa’s established solar concentration areas.

  Source

• 2021

  Implement the Adams renewable wheeling projectProduct launch

  Background

  Corporate customers needed a mechanism to purchase renewable electricity generated away from their facilities, while South Africa’s grid provided the transmission network.

  Action taken

  SOLA developed and implemented the 10 MW Adams Solar PV Project for Amazon Web Services and used the national grid to wheel its output.

  Aftermath

  Adams became the first large-scale renewable wheeling project in South Africa and established a model for subsequent corporate power projects.

  Source

• 2020

  Accept a strategic minority investment from African Rainbow Energy and PowerM&A

  Background

  SOLA was expanding its private renewable-generation and wheeling model as South Africa’s regulatory environment became more favorable to independent power producers.

  Action taken

  African Rainbow Energy and Power acquired a 40% shareholding and became the largest single shareholder, while the founding shareholders retained control at the time described.

  Aftermath

  The investment supported SOLA’s continued development of utility-scale private power and corporate wheeling infrastructure.

  Source

1. 1SOLA Groupen.wikipedia.org