Emerging markets power developer, Globeleq, has completed two solar power projects in South Africa.

Opening ceremonies attended by local and national government, industry and community representatives, marked the completion of two 50MW PV power plants, the De Aar solar power plant and the Droogfontein solar power plant.

Both located in the Northern Cape, the projects were grid connected at the end of 2013 and are part of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP). Expansion of the REIPPP was announced in April.

The De Aar solar power plant has 167,580 panels installed and mounted over 100 hectares and is located just outside of the town of De Aar.

Droogfontein solar power plant consists of 168,720 panels mounted over 90 hectares. The facility is located at Droogfontein, north of Kimberley.

The projects are some of the first large-scale renewable power plants to built in South Africa, creating more than 1,000 jobs, of which more than 700 were local jobs.

A percentage of the two project’s revenues will be reinvested into development programmes for the local community.

Mikael Karlsson, CEO of Globeleq, said solar power projects such as the two newly completed “boost local economies through delivery of clean and reliable electricity, creation of jobs and the development of skills that will increasingly be in demand as the industry grows”, as well as being important contributions to the country's energy mix, he said.

Mark Pickering, managing director of Globeleq South Africa, added: "These plants are part of the first wave of private power generation to be built in the country in many decades. Solar power is truly a win-win solution that benefits the local community, the national economy and the global environment.”

Emerging markets such as South Africa are providing an “increasingly attractive environment for energy investors as policy support continues to encourage investment in the sector, particularly in renewables”, said Torbjorn Caesar, partner of energy for Actis, the sole owner of Globeleq and an emerging market private equity firm, which has US$6.5 billion of funds under management. “Actis will continue to provide shareholder support to Globeleq and other renewable initiatives in our target regions," said Caesar.

Globeleq also helped bring the 138MW Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm online, located on the Eastern Cape. Globeleq is the majority shareholder in a consortium comprised of Mainstream Renewable Power, Thebe Investment Corporation and the engineering firms: Enzani Technologies and Usizo Engineering as well as local community trusts.