#South Africa #AIKO #Infinity Power #Mpumalanga

Infinity Power Teams Up with AIKO for Major Solar Initiative in South Africa

Infinity Power has made significant strides in its renewable energy initiatives by partnering with AIKO, a leader in solar technology, to implement large-scale solar projects in South Africa. This agreement centers around the supply of high-efficiency ABC (All Back Contact) solar modules for three utility-scale projects, totaling 773.5 MWp of solar capacity. This collaboration marks a significant milestone as it pushes their total joint project output across Africa beyond 2 GWp.

Under the agreement, AIKO will deliver 1,195,136 high-efficiency solar modules, projected to generate more than 1,871 GWh of clean energy annually. These modules will support three large-scale solar projects: Highveld, Onderstepoort Solar 1 (OS1), and Onderstepoort Solar 2 (OS2), which are included in South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). This epic collaboration will be instrumental in meeting the growing energy demands of Africa while significantly reducing carbon emissions.

The Highveld project, located in Mpumalanga, aims to provide clean energy sufficient to power approximately 167,000 homes, preventing about 660,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. Meanwhile, the two Onderstepoort Solar projects will collectively power about 289,000 homes and avoid over 1.1 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. Cumulatively, Infinity Power's projects will help circumvent approximately 1.7 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year based on public estimates.

Infinity Power has secured a substantial allocation of 1.28 GW in solar capacity from this bidding round, making it the largest among its competitors for Bid Window 7. Known as the largest pure-play renewable energy provider in Africa, Infinity Power focuses on developing, building, and operating large-scale solar and wind initiatives across the continent. Ahmed Zakaria, Director of EPC and Strategic Procurement at Infinity Power, shared, “Our partnership with AIKO in our South African projects is based on their proven ability to meet our technical requirements and their reliability in project delivery.”

AIKO’s ABC technology is crucial in ensuring efficient energy production with minimal project costs. This technology effectively reduces the total number of modules and balance-of-system (BOS) components required, leading to lower overall project expenditures, which is vital for economic competitiveness in the auction-based system. Furthermore, in the high-temperature and irradiance conditions experienced in South Africa, the superior temperature coefficient of AIKO's modules promises consistent power output, thereby maximizing the energy yield across their lifecycle.

The decision to use AIKO's ABC modules, specifically model AIKO-A645/650-GRH66Dw, reflects an emphasis on both performance and a reliable track record of execution. With anticipated low degradation rates and strong traceability throughout the production and delivery timeline, the project assures stability and efficiency throughout its planned 20-year lifespan.

This collaboration is AIKO's first project partnership with Infinity Power in South Africa, complementing their ongoing work on previous projects in Egypt. Collectively, their collaboration now surpasses 2 GWp in combined contributions, showcasing AIKO's technology reliability in large-scale renewable energy solutions.

About Infinity Power

Infinity Power is recognized as the largest African pure-play renewable energy provider, formed through a joint venture between Infinity and Masdar. It aims to target power generation projects across Africa through renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. The company has set an audacious goal to achieve 10 GW of operational capacity by 2032, further highlighting its commitment to clean energy solutions and sustainability.

About AIKO

AIKO stands at the forefront of solar technology, specializing in innovative research, development, and manufacturing solutions for solar power generation. With a mission to lead humanity toward a carbon-free future, AIKO continues to introduce cutting-edge technology aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of solar energy systems.

For more details about Infinity Power and AIKO, you can visit their respective websites for further information. The future of renewable energy in Africa looks bright with these companies leading the charge towards a sustainable energy landscape.