Infinity Power has selected Chinese solar technology company AIKO to supply modules for three utility-scale solar projects in South Africa with a combined capacity of 773.5 megawatt-peak (MWp), extending the companies’ partnership in Africa beyond 2 gigawatt-peak (GWp).
The agreement, announced on Oct. 9, marks their first collaboration in South Africa and their third across the continent. AIKO previously supplied equipment for the 258.5 MWp Nefer Benban and 1.2 GWp Nefer Menya solar projects in Egypt.
Under the agreement, AIKO will supply 1,195,136 of its all-back-contact (ABC) solar modules for Infinity Power’s Highveld, Onderstepoort Solar 1 and Onderstepoort Solar 2 projects. The three installations are expected to generate more than 1,871 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually.
The projects were awarded under the seventh bidding window of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). They are expected to operate under 20-year power purchase agreements with state-owned utility Eskom.
Construction will be divided between two engineering, procurement and construction contractors. Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy will handle the Highveld project, while PowerChina Guizhou Engineering will deliver the two Onderstepoort installations.
South Africa’s renewable energy investment
The projects form part of a broader expansion of renewable energy capacity as South Africa seeks to address persistent electricity supply constraints and diversify its power generation mix.
Infinity Power secured 1.28 GW of solar capacity in Bid Window 7, the largest allocation among successful bidders, according to the companies’ announcement.
The Highveld project, located in Mpumalanga, is expected to generate enough electricity to supply approximately 167,000 homes and avoid about 660,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The two Onderstepoort projects, located in the North West province, are expected to supply approximately 289,000 homes and prevent more than 1.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year. Combined, the three projects are forecast to avoid about 1.7 million tonnes of annual emissions.
The estimates are based on public projections cited in the announcement and will depend on the projects’ eventual operating performance.
Technology and project economics
The choice of AIKO’s ABC modules reflects the cost pressures facing developers competing in South Africa’s renewable energy auctions, where lower tariffs have increased the importance of equipment efficiency and overall project economics.
AIKO said its selected AIKO-A645/650-GRH66Dw modules offer efficiencies of up to 24.1%. Their higher power output can reduce the number of modules required and lower associated balance-of-system costs, including mounting structures and cabling.
The company also highlighted the modules’ temperature performance, which it said would help maintain electricity output under South Africa’s high solar irradiance and elevated temperatures.
AIKO said the modules have an expected degradation rate of no more than 1% in the first year, followed by an annual rate of 0.35% from years two to 30. The performance characteristics are intended to support generation reliability over the projects’ planned 20-year power purchase agreements.
Ahmed Zakaria, Infinity Power’s director of EPC and strategic procurement, said the company chose AIKO based on its ability to meet technical requirements and its record of reliable deliveries on projects in Egypt.
“AIKO’s ABC technology delivers the efficiency and execution certainty required to deliver large-scale projects under the REIPPPP framework,” Zakaria said.
He added that Infinity Power looked forward to bringing the full portfolio into commercial operation.
Expanding across Africa
Infinity Power is a joint venture between Egypt-based Infinity and Abu Dhabi’s Masdar. The company develops, builds and operates utility-scale solar and wind projects across Africa, with battery storage also among its targeted technologies.
It aims to reach 10 GW of operational capacity by 2032. The company reported an operational portfolio of approximately 1.3 GW across Egypt, South Africa and Senegal, alongside 6.3 GW of wind and solar capacity under development, including 3.8 GW at an advanced stage.
For AIKO, the South African agreement extends a relationship with a major African renewable energy developer and adds to its presence in a market where auction-based procurement places a premium on efficiency, delivery schedules and long-term performance.
The companies’ cumulative collaboration now exceeds 2 GWp, according to AIKO. The new agreement also highlights the growing role of international solar technology suppliers in supporting Africa’s utility-scale renewable energy expansion.
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