The project represents an important milestone in Mulilo’s ambitious strategy to deliver 1 GW of new generation capacity annually, reinforcing the company’s role as a leading contributor to South Africa’s energy transition.
A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has been concluded with Etana Energy in record time, demonstrating strong market confidence in the project’s technical and commercial fundamentals, as well as Mulilo and Etana’s ability to execute at pace.
Once operational, the Orkney Solar PV Facility is expected to generate approximately 478 GWh of clean electricity each year which will be sold to Etana’s customers across South Africa. This will result in the avoidance of over 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions annually and will provide enough energy to power approximately 210,000 households.
The facility will connect to the Jersey Distribution Substation via a newly constructed 24 km overhead transmission line, ensuring seamless integration into the regional electricity network. It has also been designed to be battery energy storage system (BESS) ready, enabling future integration of storage capacity to enhance grid flexibility and dispatchability.
This success was made possible through the support of its shareholders, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Norfund, as well as close collaboration with Mulilo’s funding, legal and advisory partners—including Absa Bank, Standard Bank South Africa, Fasken, Arup, PepperTree Capital and ENS Africa—whose collective expertise underpinned a robust and disciplined process.
“The financial close of the Orkney Solar PV project marks an important milestone in advancing Mulilo’s commitment to strengthening South Africa’s energy security,” said Jan Fourie, Chief Executive Officer of Mulilo.
“This achievement reflects the strength of our partnerships, the capabilities of our team, and the growing role of private-sector generation in solving South Africa’s energy challenges. We are honoured to work with Etana Energy and our partners to deliver clean, reliable power and lasting economic value to the North West Province and beyond.”
Jay Govender, Chief Commercial and Legal Officer at Etana Energy, commented: “This project marks another significant step in Etana Energy’s growth, with the Orkney solar plant being more than double the size of our first solar project under construction with Mulilo. The speed at which this project has reached financial close demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Mulilo, the bankability of our respective structures, and the accelerating demand from customers for reliable, large-scale renewable electricity delivered through Etana’s platform.”
About Mulilo
Mulilo is a leading South African renewable energy developer and independent power producer, specialising in wind, solar, and battery storage projects. With a development pipeline exceeding 30 GW, Mulilo is dedicated to driving South Africa’s transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. For more information, please visit www.mulilo.com
For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
John Messiahs
Director: Corporate Affairs