385 MW of solar energy projects focus on sustainability and community benefits
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 19, 2013
SkyPower, the world’s largest solar developer, submitted six bids today to the Department of Energy as a participant in South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Program (REIPPPP).
In total, 93 bidders from around the world participated in Bid Round 3 with the Department of Energy commenting that a “large number of very competitive bid responses were submitted for the third bid submission date in the onshore wind and solar photovoltaic technologies.”
In preparation for bid submission, SkyPower travelled throughout South Africa engaging with thousands of community members as well as municipal and provincial leaders to design solar projects that not only embody the greatest value proposition for the government, but most importantly invest in the people of South Africa.
SkyPower worked in collaboration with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) – The TIA is an organization dedicated to stimulating and intensifying technological innovation in order to improve economic growth and the quality of life of all South Africans. SkyPower will continue to work with organizations such as TIA with a commitment to responsible and socially beneficial hiring practices. The company is committed to exceeding expectations in its hiring process to ensure that local expertise is used and jobs are created locally.
SkyPower has partnered with local socio-economic development and community welfare experts supporting a variety of educational projects to introduce communities to the benefits of solar power. This included distributing hundreds of solar-powered lanterns to school children in communities without electricity to provide light to study at night.
If selected, SkyPower’s six solar projects stand to make a sustainable, measurable impact to improve the livelihoods of community members through contributing to economic development and creating jobs for local citizens.
“These projects are focused on sustainability and local benefits,” said Kerry Adler, Chief Executive Officer and President of SkyPower. “Our project designs look to ensure a measurable and achievable social impact for the people of South Africa.”
Through SkyPower’s participation in the REIPPPP process, the company is eager to inspire a vision of a bright future for South Africa – a future of socio-economic prosperity and affordable energy for all.