Major PV energy provider SunPower Corp and AE-AMD Renewable Energy, a joint venture between the Spanish AMDA energia and the South African Alt-E Technologies, have completed two ground-mounted PV projects in South Africa, totaling 33MW.

Both plants, the 22MW Herbert and 11MW Greefspan projects, were installed by SunPower and are located near Douglas, South Africa.

The two facilities, which are part of the South African government’s Independent Power Producers Procurement Program, are located on more than 160 hectares of land and were built with 138,000 PV panels on single-axis trackers.

Both PV plants are owned by AE-AMD Renewable Energy and its partners. Power produced from both facilities will by sold to South African utility Eskom.

Piero Granelli, CEO of AE-AMD, said: "The successful completion of these projects, on time, demonstrates what can be achieved with committed and professional partners. The projects not only help to alleviate pressure on the country's power supply, but also provide much needed support to the local communities over the lifetime of the plants."

SunPower is expected to stay in the region, as the company is preparing to begin work on a 86MW PV farm in Prieska, South Africa. SunPower is expected to offer engineering, procurement and construction services (EPC), as well as operation and maintenance (O&M) to the project.