- Norwegian renewable investment in South Africa expands as PM Støre visits major solar plants, driving clean energy, job creation and coal.
- Mainstream Renewable Power plans to expand its renewable capacity to 12 GW.
Norwegian renewable investment in South Africa garnered global attention as Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visited a central Norwegian-owned solar power plant on Friday, November 21. Norwegian renewable investment in South Africa continues to expand, and the Prime Minister used the visit to highlight its growing impact. The company behind the project already supplies renewable electricity to 200,000 households, and several Norwegian firms are increasing their presence in the sector.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister stressed that Africa faces a serious electricity gap. Approximately 600 million Africans lack access to reliable power. Yet the continent holds vast solar potential, and Norwegian companies are helping to convert this potential into clean energy. Støre said the solar plant reduces emissions while supporting economic growth across South Africa.
The Prime Minister toured the Damlaagte and Ilikwa solar facilities in the Free State province. Both plants were developed by Mainstream Renewable Power, which counts Norway’s Aker Horizons ASA as a major shareholder. Together, the two facilities will deliver electricity equal to the annual use of 120,000 households.
South Africa still depends heavily on coal, which supplies roughly 85 per cent of its power. Consequently, the Prime Minister emphasised that Norwegian expertise is making a real difference. He noted that the solar projects demonstrate how Norwegian investments support the global green transition while creating new employment opportunities.
The Damlaagte project alone employed over 1,700 workers during construction. It currently operates with a permanent staff of 19. Mainstream Renewable Power has already built 850 MW of renewable assets in South Africa and plans to develop a further 12 GW. This expansion equals the electricity consumption of 2.8 million households.
Additionally, Støre highlighted the importance of cooperation between public and private actors. Norad provided NOK 20 million for feasibility studies, which reduced the risk and enabled the project to proceed. He said Norway supports profitable renewable projects while sharing expertise that accelerates regional energy transition.
Norwegian companies, such as Scatec, Magnora, Valinor/Norsk Renewables, and Aker ASA, continue to win tenders across South Africa. Their projects include solar plants, wind farms and hybrid systems that combine solar generation with battery storage. Norfund has invested about NOK 5 billion in the country, mainly in renewable energy. These efforts have increased capacity, supported job creation and reduced emissions.