SOLA Group Advances Naos‑1 Hybrid Solar and Battery Facility to Support Corporate Power Demand
South Africa has reached a new milestone in its renewable energy rollout with the start of construction on the Naos‑1 Hybrid Solar and Battery Project, the country’s first utility‑scale solar‑plus‑battery facility purpose‑built to wheel electricity to private end‑users through the national grid.
The development, led by SOLA Group, represents a strategic shift in how large consumers source clean power and supports broader efforts to expand private sector participation in power infrastructure. The project will supply electricity to major industrial offtakers under long‑term power purchase agreements, bypassing traditional single‑site generation models and instead using grid wheeling to deliver energy across regions.
Project Overview
The Naos‑1 project is being developed in the Free State province, near Viljoenskroon, and combines:
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Solar Photovoltaic Generation: 300 MW (435 MWp) of solar capacity
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Battery Energy Storage: 660 MWh of storage to enable flexible dispatch and peak‑time support
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Corporate Off‑takers: Long‑term supply contracts with industrial clients such as Sasol and Air Liquide
By integrating large‑scale solar with battery storage, Naos‑1 is designed to provide reliable, dispatchable renewable power even during periods without sunlight, enhancing supply stability and aligning with corporate sustainability goals.
Construction has begun after the project achieved financial close, with commercial operation targeted afor round 2028.
Why This Matters
Wheeling enables electricity generated at one location to be transmitted through the grid for use by customers at other sites. This model offers several advantages:
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Grid flexibility: Stored energy can be delivered during peak demand or when generation drops.
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Cost predictability: Industrial buyers secure renewable power without on‑site generation infrastructure.
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Decarbonisation: Corporates can pursue sustainability goals while reducing reliance on utility or fossil fuel power.
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Market innovation: Represents one of South Africa’s first large‑scale hybrid wheeling projects, setting a precedent for future private power initiatives.
Investment and Sector Implications
For investors and policymakers, Naos‑1 underscores a maturing renewable energy market in South Africa:
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Private offtake frameworks are enabling bespoke supply arrangements.
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Grid wheeling models expand the commercial potential for distributed renewable generation.
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Battery storage integration improves dispatchability and revenue stability.
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Long‑term PPAs enhance project bankability, attracting institutional interest.
This project highlights the potential for wheeling not just in South Africa but across other markets seeking flexible, corporate‑focused energy solutions.
Key Takeouts
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Construction has started on South Africa’s first utility‑scale hybrid solar and battery wheeling project — the Naos‑1 facility.
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The project combines 300 MW of solar PV with 660 MWh of battery storage.
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Power will be wheeled across the grid to corporate offtakers under long‑term contracts.
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Financial close has been achieved, and commercial operations are targeted for 2028.
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The project signals growing innovation in South Africa’s private power market and wheeling mechanisms.
