Africa Data Centres and DPA Southern Africa Break Ground on Solar Farm in Free State
Africa Data Centres, in partnership with DPA Southern Africa, has initiated the construction of a solar farm in the Free State region, marking a significant step towards renewable energy adoption in South Africa’s data centre industry.
The groundbreaking ceremony, which took place recently, signifies the commencement of a vital project aimed at providing renewable energy to Africa Data Centres sites, starting with its state-of-the-art, carrier-neutral data centre in Cape Town, known as the CPT1 facility.
This milestone follows the signing of a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in March 2023 between Africa Data Centres and DPA Southern Africa, a joint venture of the French utility, EDF. The solar farm in the Free State is strategically positioned to supply renewable energy to Africa Data Centres’ facilities, addressing the pressing energy challenges while embracing sustainable technology solutions.
Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, the parent company of Africa Data Centres, emphasized the significance of this initiative in responding to South Africa’s energy crisis and advancing eco-friendly practices in the data centre industry. Pemhiwa stated, “The strategic use of solar power showcases technology’s role in pioneering solutions for energy challenges and environmental sustainability.”
Tesh Durvasula, CEO of Africa Data Centres, reaffirmed the commitment to power all data centres with clean, renewable energy sources, marking a crucial step towards achieving carbon neutrality. Durvasula highlighted the phased approach of the project, with the initial phase focusing on constructing a 12MW solar infrastructure to power the Cape Town data centre, followed by subsequent phases extending to Johannesburg data centres.
Nawfal El Fadil, CEO of DPA Southern Africa, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with Africa Data Centres and reiterated their shared commitment to sustainability. El Fadil emphasized the importance of innovation, expertise, and collective determination in achieving carbon neutrality, underscoring the role of the solar power plant in the Free State as a significant contribution to this mission.
This project aligns with Africa Data Centres’ ambitious plans to emerge as the most sustainable colocation provider on the continent. Durvasula elaborated on the company’s efficiency strategy, which has earned international recognition through ISO50001 certification for effective data centre operation.
Durvasula concluded by emphasizing the project’s role in alleviating strain on the local grid and advancing sustainability objectives, ultimately contributing to Africa Data Centres’ vision of achieving net-zero status across all facilities.
Source: APO Group
