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# [SOUTH AFRICA / AFRICA] Solar energy: NERSA grants licences for 890 MW in a single round
- URL: https://businessoi.media/en/afrique-du-sud-afrique-energie-solaire-la-nersa-accorde-des-licences-pour-890-mw-en-un-seul-round-en/
- Published: 2026-07-29T08:44:53.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-29T08:44:53.000Z
- Description: NERSA grants licences for 4 solar plants totalling 890 MW in a single round. Red Rocket (650 MW) and Engie (240 MW) lead the charge under the REIPPPP — Africa's premier renewable energy market.
- Author: Emmanuel TAOCHY
- Tags: Afrique, Économie, Investissement, Flash de mi-journée, #en

South Africa's energy regulator NERSA granted licences on 30 June 2026 for four new solar photovoltaic plants totalling 890 MW of contracted capacity. Red Rocket and Engie are the two developers selected under the national REIPPPP renewable energy programme.

## Four projects, two major players

Red Rocket, which already operates 288 MW of wind assets in the country, secures three solar projects:

- Sculptor Energy: 240 MW
- Springhaas Solar Facility 1: 240 MW
- Springhaas Solar Facility 6: 170 MW

Engie, through its subsidiary Corona Energy, receives a licence for an additional 240 MW. The combined installed capacity of the four projects reaches 1,049 MW — enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes.

## A smooth regulatory process

Applications were filed on 23 January 2026\. NERSA received no objections during the public consultation period. The final approval on 30 June 2026 comes as South Africa seeks to accelerate its energy transition and reduce its dependence on Eskom's coal-fired plants, which have caused recurring blackouts across the country.

## REIPPPP: a structural accelerator

The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) is the main mechanism through which South Africa develops its clean energy capacity. These 890 MW add to an already substantial portfolio in Africa's largest renewable energy market.

## Why it matters

The signal is clear across the continent: major international players — including Engie, one of the world's largest energy companies — are continuing to invest heavily in African solar. In the Indian Ocean region, where energy transition pressures are equally acute (Mauritius, Réunion, Madagascar, Seychelles), this move shows where global capital and energy markets are heading.

*Source: Agence Ecofin, July 2026\. Data: NERSA / approval dated 30 June 2026.*