MechChem Africa May-June 2025

SPS solar project first for Darling Estate Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS), a leading asset management company in the renewable energy space, in partnership with Darling Green Country Estate and TouchPoint Energy, has successfully commissioned a first-of-its-kind solar 1.0 MW solar plant in the town of Darling, within the Swartland Municipality. ⎪ PowerGen,PetroChem and Sustainable energy management ⎪ S ustainable Power Solutions (SPS), in partnership with Darling Green Country Estate and TouchPoint Energy, has successfully commis

sioned a 1.0 MW first-of-its-kind solar plant in the town of Darling, within the Swartland Municipality. This pioneering project marks a significant step forward in South Africa’s re newable energy landscape, with far-reaching benefits for both the local community and the national grid. The solar plant, which came onstream on 10 March 2025, will supply clean, sustain able energy to the newly developed Darling Green Country Estate, powered by the recently established green energy provider, Darling Green Utility. A portion of the surplus energy generated by the plant will be sold to Swartland Municipality under a three-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), further reinforcing the estate’s commitment to fostering a greener future. By the end of this period, the estate is expected to have expanded sufficiently to consume most of the energy produced. SPS was chosen to implement the project as a ‘one-stop shop’ for both technical solu

Left: Francois van Themaat, MD for Large Projects at SPS. Right: Klaus-Gustav Göbel, founding shareholder of the Darling Green Country Estate.

tions and funding. Touchpoint Energy (former ly Genesis) played a key role in the project's early stages by assisting with its conceptu alisation, design, and legal documentation. Uniquely, the Darling Green Solar Project offers estate residents ‘guided meter power’, protecting them from load shedding during Stages 1 and 2. This initiative aims to provide a more affordable and reliable electricity solution, ensuring a stable power supply at all times. Furthermore, plans are underway for the development of an additional 5.0 MW solar farm adjacent to the existing plant. Darling Green Solar (Pty) Ltd has secured approval to access the Eskom grid in Darling, allowing for the wheeling of 5.0 MW of power to custom

ers connected to the Eskom grid in other parts of the country. Currently in its final design stage and undergoing Eskom’s approval process, the 5.0 MW project is expected to be commis sioned by mid-2026. SPS, in collaboration with Darling Green Utility, will oversee the distribution of this renewable energy, further cementing the estate’s role as a leader in sus tainable power solutions. The project has created significant short term job opportunities, benefiting the local economy, with more jobs expected to be created in the medium term. Long-term plans involve expanding the grid from the solar farm to supply power to the entire town of Darling, a model that could be applied to other towns in South Africa. Francois van Themaat, managing director for Large Projects at SPS, and Klaus-Gustav Göbel, the founding shareholder of the Darling Green Country Estate, expressed their enthusiasm for the project, stating: “We are proud to have commissioned this pioneering initiative in South Africa. We extend our gratitude to Swartland Municipality for their forward-thinking ap proach to renewable energy and their invaluable support in bringing this project to life. Residents of Darling Green Country Estate can take pride in knowing that their future energy needs will be met by the Swartland sun shining on the Darling solar plant.” Beyond its environmental impact, this initiative is creating numerous job opportuni ties and fostering economic growth within the Darling community. By ensuring a reliable, uninterrupted power supply and keeping the area loadshedding-free, Darling Green Country Estate is setting a new benchmark for sustain able living in South Africa. With its visionary approach and commit ment to clean energy, the estate is well on its way to becoming a trailblazer in the country’s renewable energy revolution. https://sps.africa

At the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Darling Estate’s 1.0 MW solar plant are, from left: Charles Neethling, Richard Olley (Gridworks), Dorita van Themaat, Francois van Themaat, Stefan Bothma and Paul Mansourn from SPS; Swartland Municipality Executive, Mayor Harold Cleophas; and Klaus Göbel, Mary-Park Göbel, Rurik Göbel and Ralph Rabie from the Darling Green Team.

Uniquely, the Darling Green Solar Project offers estate residents ‘guided meter power’, protecting them from Stages 1 and 2 load shedding.

May-June 2025 • MechChem Africa ¦ 15