By backing one of the world’s largest solar-battery projects we’re helping to bring reliable power to South Africa, and empowering women along the way.
South Africa still relies heavily on coal for electricity and suffers from an unreliable power supply. Power cuts averaged eight hours a day in 2022, reducing GDP growth by an estimated 2–3 per cent. Building a cleaner, more reliable energy system is now considered critical to help the country stabilise its power grid and support South Africa’s clean energy transition.
The Kenhardt Solar Project is one of the world’s largest hybrid solar and battery storage facilities. The project developers saw an opportunity not only to generate clean electricity, but to also work alongside the rural community to deliver local economic growth. We supported the financing for the project’s construction in 2023. It is now fully operational and delivers 540 megawatts of solar energy and 225 megawatts of battery storage. The battery storage facility means that the power can be regulated by grid operators to match electricity demand, overcoming intermittency challenges and improving grid stability.
Our project monitoring revealed strong female participation in the construction phase. We recently published a case study highlighting how women were widely recognised for the quality of their work, reliability and positive influence on workplace culture. Their involvement also had wider social and economic benefits, boosting local household incomes and challenging outdated perceptions about women’s roles in construction.
