SOLA Group Initiates Naos-1 Hybrid Solar and Battery Project
SOLA Group has reached Financial Close and commenced construction on its Naos-1 Hybrid Solar and Battery Project, a landmark development set to transform South Africa’s private power market.
The project combines a 300 MW solar facility (435 MWp) with 660 MWh of battery energy storage and is enabled through long-term power purchase agreements with Sasol and Air Liquide. It is the country’s first utility-scale solar-plus-storage project purpose-built to wheel power across the national grid to private end-users.
Located near Viljoenskroon in the Free State, Naos-1 is designed to address one of renewable energy’s key challenges: meeting peak evening demand. By storing solar power generated during the day and dispatching it when demand is highest, the project will provide reliable, low-carbon electricity at competitive tariffs.
Developed, engineered and to be operated by SOLA Group, Naos-1 is the largest privately contracted hybrid renewable energy project to reach Financial Close in South Africa to date. Commercial operation is targeted for the first half of 2028.
Jonathan Skeen, Managing Director: Commercial at SOLA Group, said the project represents “a major step forward for dispatchable renewable energy in South Africa’s private power market,” adding that it aligns with SOLA’s ambition to deliver affordable, on-demand clean energy and to reach 2 GW of solar and 5 GWh of storage capacity by 2030.
The project is backed by South African financial institutions, with Development Bank of Southern Africa acting as the largest senior debt financier, alongside Nedbank, RMB, Investec and Absa. Equity funding is provided by RMB and Sanlam, with SOLA retaining majority ownership alongside Ubuzwe. The project is 100% South African owned and more than 51% Black owned.
Dr Sarushen Pillay, Executive Vice President at Sasol, said the project is a key milestone in the company’s transition towards a low-carbon energy portfolio. Nicolas Poirot, CEO for Africa, the Middle East and India at Air Liquide, described Naos-1 as a strategic benchmark for delivering firm, reliable renewable energy at scale.
Naos-1 is the first in a pipeline of hybrid solar and battery projects being developed by SOLA Group, with a further 600 MW at an advanced stage. Together, these developments place SOLA at the forefront of modernising and decarbonising South Africa’s power system, while supporting long-term community investment and socio-economic development.
