NEWS

Solarcentury Africa’s 19.3 MWp Gerus solar PV plant in Namibia has successfully reached commercial operation, marking another important milestone in the growth of competitive, market driven renewable energy in Southern Africa.

The Gerus plant is only the second purpose built merchant solar plant in Africa to trade electricity on the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), following Solarcentury Africa’s 25 MWp Mailo solar plant in Zambia, which entered commercial operation in July 2025. Construction is already underway on the third such project, the 34 MWp Phase 2 expansion at Mailo, expected to reach commercial operation in Q2 2026.

Developed in partnership with Sino Energy (Pty) Limited and delivered following a rapid 12 month construction schdule, Gerus is now selling electricity into the SAPP, becoming the first merchant solar plant in Namibia to do so. The project represents a major step forward for competitive, market‑based power generation in the region and further consolidates Solarcentury Africa’s position as a leader in merchant renewable energy.

The Gerus solar plant is wholly owned by Solarcentury Africa. Funding for the project was provided by BB Energy, the leading independent energy trading group and parent company of Solarcentury Africa. The electricity generated at Gerus will be sold by Solarcentury Trading, a member of the SAPP, underscoring the strategic importance of trading‑led power assets to the group’s evolution.

Key project metrics:

• Up to 275 jobs created during construction, with over 98% filled by Namibians, alongside significant skills transfer and training.
• Approximately 50.8 GWh of clean electricity annually, enough to power more than 14,000 Namibian homes.
• An estimated reduction of c. 17,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year, equivalent to the annual carbon capture of approximately one million trees.
• Around USD 20 million of international funding, representing the largest UK investment in Namibia’s clean energy sector to date.

Looking ahead, Solarcentury Africa is on track to develop, own and operate more than 320 MWp of fully merchant solar capacity by 2027, supported by strong local partnerships and international investment. Together with BB Energy, these initiatives play a critical role in addressing regional energy deficits while accelerating the transition to sustainable, market‑based power solutions.