Page 20 - Energize April 2022

NEWS

Solar power for mines to alleviate

grid constraints

ronox Holdings, the world’s leading power purchase agreements. The developments make use of the government’s recent
integrated manufacturer of titanium relaxation of licensing requirements, which exempt projects up to 100 MW in size from
Tdioxide pigment, today announced requiring a generation license.
that it has entered into a long-term power “We are delighted to see that large scale energy consumers like Tronox, are making use
purchase agreement with the South of the opportunity to convert to clean and cost-effective energy,” says Chris Haw, director
African independent power producer, and co-founder at the SOLA Group. “These types of projects are the fastest way to bring new
SOLA Group, to provide 200 MW of solar generation capacity online and not only contribute to closing the electricity supply gap in our
power to Tronox’s mines and smelters in country, but also support the much-needed transition to clean energy and modernisation of
the Republic of South Africa. our electricity grid.”
The Company anticipates the project The execution of the agreements comes at a time when South Africa is faced with further
should be fully implemented by the fourth load shedding and is desperately in need of extra capacity to be added to its electricity
quarter of 2023. network. The projects are expected to start construction in the third quarter of this year.
The energy will be provided to Tronox The concept of wheeling was first implemented in South Africa by SOLA Group at scale
through wheeling agreements, which allow with Amazon Web Services in 2021 and allows projects in advanced stages of development
Eskom to be paid for the maintenance and to contract with private energy consumers, thereby shortening permitting, procurement and
upkeep of its infrastructure to transport construction timelines.
the energy.
“Tronox’s renewable energy project About the SOLA Group
with SOLA Group will reduce our global The SOLA Group is a vertically integrated Independent Power Producer and a leader in
carbon emissions by approximately 13% the supply of clean energy solutions to private companies in Africa. SOLA’s mission is to
compared to our 2019 baseline and has transform Africa through clean energy.
the full support of our Board of Directors With a track record of over 330 MW of operational projects, SOLA has the in-house
and senior management,” commented ability to develop, design, finance, construct and operate renewable energy projects from
Melissa Zona, Tronox Holding’s senior vice rooftop to utility scale. SOLA has offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban and a
president for external affairs and chief presence in five African countries.
sustainability officer. Using its core staff of 80 highly experienced professionals, SOLA is currently
The projects will be majority owned implementing over 1 GW of independent power projects for private energy consumers.
and operated by SOLA Group and will
deliver around 540 GWh of energy to Contact The SOLA Group, Phone 021 421 9764,
five mining operations through long term info@solagroup.co.za https://solagroup.co.za

energize | April 2022 | 18