- Africa Data Centres has made public that it has secured a deal to construct a solar farm.
- The CEO of DPA SA stated that at the heart of the collaboration lies a shared understanding that the path to carbon neutrality extends beyond infrastructure.
Africa Data Centres, a business of the Cassava Technologies group, has made public that it has secured a deal to construct a solar farm in the Free State in collaboration with DPA Southern Africa.
The objective of the Free State solar farm is to furnish renewable energy to African data centre sites, commencing with its cutting-edge, carrier-neutral data centre in Cape Town, the CPT1 facility.
This announcement also forms a crucial component of the 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) inked in March 2023 with DPA Southern Africa, a French utility EDF joint company.
According to Hardy Pemhiwa, Cassava Technologies’ President and Group CEO, this aligns with a broader industry shift towards innovative, eco-friendly practices. The strategic use of solar power showcases technology’s role in pioneering solutions for energy challenges and environmental sustainability.
Also, Tesh Durvasula, CEO of Africa Data Centres, underscores “the commitment to powering all data centres with clean, renewable energy sources. The first phase involves constructing the 12MW solar infrastructure to power our Cape Town data centre, with subsequent phases extending to our Johannesburg data centres.”
Likewise, this project is a critical element of Africa Data Centres’ ambitious plans to emerge as the most sustainable colocation provider on the continent. “Beyond procuring renewable energy, our commitment to an efficiency strategy has earned us the internationally recognised ISO50001 certification for the effective operation of our data centres,” Durvasula elaborates.
Moreover, “Data centres worldwide face scrutiny for their reliance on grid power and renewables, and Africa is no exception. Africa Data Centres is actively addressing this issue by generating renewable energy and alleviating strain on the local grid. Additionally, our sustainability objectives encompass achieving net-zero status at all facilities, making this project another significant stride towards reaching that goal,” concludes Durvasula.
Furthermore, Nawfal El Fadil, the CEO of DPA SA, stated that at the heart of the collaboration lies a shared understanding that the path to carbon neutrality extends beyond infrastructure. He added that it demands innovation, expertise, and collective determination to overcome challenges.
Backed by EDF’s legacy, DPA SA brings a proven track record in delivering high-quality, sustainable energy solutions to this partnership.