AFRICA Data Centres and DPA Southern Africa have initiated the development of a solar farm in the Free State, South Africa. This renewable energy project aims to power facilities in Cape Town and Johannesburg with sustainable energy sources.

A statement released yesterday by the Africa Data Centres, have that the first phase will deliver power to the CPT1 facility, while the second phase will extend to JHB1 and JHB2 pending wheeling agreements with local municipalities.

“Africa Data Centres, part of the Cassava Technologies group, begins construction on solar farm in Free State with DPA Southern Africa,” the statement reads in part.

The announcement is said to be a pivotal part of the 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed in March 2023 with DPA Southern Africa, a joint company of French utility EDF.

“The aim of the Free State farm is to provide renewable energy to Africa Data Centres sites, starting with the advanced, carrier-neutral data centre in Cape Town, the CPT1 facility,” the statement further reads.

Hardy Pemhiwa, President, and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, stated, "This initiative positions Africa Data Centres as a trailblazer in the data centre industry by addressing South Africa’s energy crisis with sustainable technology solutions.”

He added: “This aligns with a broader industry trend towards innovative, eco-friendly practices. The strategic use of solar power demonstrates technology's crucial role in pioneering solutions for energy challenges and environmental sustainability."

Tesh Durvasula, CEO of Africa Data Centres, emphasizes the commitment to power all data centers with clean, renewable energy sources. 

"Today's announcement represents a significant step towards sustainability in South African data centers, progressing our goal of achieving carbon neutrality. The first phase involves building the 12MW solar infrastructure to power our Cape Town data center, with future phases extending to our Johannesburg data centers,” he said.

Nawfal El Fadil, CEO of DPA SA, says, "Africa Data Centres, a pioneer in the data center industry, consistently shows a strong devotion to sustainability, aligning with our company's values. We are delighted to contribute to Africa Data Centres’ mission of becoming carbon neutral, starting with the establishment of this solar power plant in the Free State to serve their data center in Cape Town.”

He added: “Our collaboration recognizes the path to carbon neutrality goes beyond infrastructure—it requires innovation, expertise, and collective determination to overcome challenges. With EDF's experience, DPA SA is well-equipped to deliver sustainable energy solutions."

Nawfal El Fadil states, "It is a privilege to support Africa Data Centres on this journey by launching a wheeling solar plant, paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future in South Africa."

This project is a fundamental part of Africa Data Centres' plans to emerge as the most sustainable colocation provider on the continent. "Beyond sourcing renewable energy, our commitment to an efficiency strategy has led to the ISO50001 certification for our data centers," adds Durvasula.

Durvasula concludes, "Data centers globally face scrutiny for their reliance on grid power and renewables, and Africa Data Centres is actively addressing this by generating renewable energy, relieving strain on the local grid. Our sustainability goals include achieving net-zero status at all facilities, making this project a significant step towards that ultimate goal."