The News:
- Teraco, a data center provider, is set to tackle South Africa’s power challenges by investing $106 million in a 120MW solar facility in the Free State province.
- Teraco secured grid capacity from Eskom to connect the solar plant, aiming to combat power issues affecting its data centers.
The move comes as Eskom, the state-owned utility, struggles to meet energy demands. The solar project is expected to generate over 338,000MWh annually and aligns with the growing trend of companies seeking alternative energy sources due to Eskom’s challenges.
Jan Hnizdo, Teraco’s CEO, highlighted the company’s reliance on diesel to sustain operations during Eskom’s power shortages. With a critical power load capacity of 186MW across various campuses, Teraco aims to reduce costs and contribute to renewable energy objectives through the solar initiative.
Teraco’s partnership with JUWI Renewable Energies South Africa and Subsolar underscores its commitment to renewable energy. The $106 million project is slated to be operational within 18 months, offering a substantial boost to the national grid’s capacity. Hnizdo emphasized that the grid capacity allocation is a significant step toward meeting Teraco’s renewable energy goals, aligning with a broader commitment to sustainability.
