Huawei Digital Power is supporting the expansion of renewable energy generation at Highveld Industrial Park in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, through its contribution to the 6.35 MWp Shumbasolve Phase 2 solar project.
Developed by Highveld Industrial Park, the plant’s offtaker, MPower Energy, the energy platform of property investment company Moolman Group and Fledge Capital the project was officially launched on 28 October.
The Phase 2 installation runs on Huawei SUN2000-330KTL inverters and the Huawei LUNA2000-4.5MWH-2H1 liquid-cooled Smart String battery energy storage system (BESS), with a storage capacity of 4.475 MWh. Combined with the solar generation capacity added in this phase, the expansion brings Shumbasolve’s total installed solar capacity to approximately 9.95 MWp.
The new plant is expected to produce around 9.98 GWh of clean electricity annually and avoid approximately 6,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. The battery stores surplus solar energy generated at midday and discharges it when demand is highest, reducing the park’s reliance on grid electricity at those times.
Speaking at the launch, JZ Moolman, Director: Private Equity at Moolman Group, and CEO of MPower, said the two phases together avoid an estimated 13,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions a year. He links projects like this directly to economic growth. “To make our economy grow, we need to have cheaper electricity and I think the only way that we are going to achieve that is by building these large-scale renewable energy plants in South Africa,” he added.
According to Moolman, MPower togetherwith partner SolarAfrica, have also secured a 300-hectare site at the park. It plans to build a further 184 MW solar PV plant there, alongside 210 MWh of battery storage.
Andrea de Souza, CEO of Highveld Industrial Park, says collaboration makes the project possible. “Highveld cannot be viewed as pieces in isolation, it’s something that has to work together. Working together meant understanding the right strategy to implement and the right infrastructure to put in place, and this is one of those pieces of infrastructure, which is very important. Having the right partners has also been an important part of our journey,” she says.
“Industrial sites need power they can plan around,” says Darius Mare, Head of Key Accounts at Huawei Digital Power South Africa. “Our Smart String storage captures the solar energy the park doesn’t use and makes it available when the park needs it most. That gives Highveld more certainty over its energy costs and its supply.”
“We’re proud to work with MPower and its partners on Phase 2,” he adds. “With spare-part warehouses and service teams here in South Africa, we can support the plant for the long term.”
Phase 2 builds on the first phase of Shumbasolve, which was commissioned in 2024, with a 3.6 MW solar PV plant comprising approximately 6,200 bifacial solar modules and a 1 MVA gas-to-power unit. The solar installation generates an estimated 6.8 GWh of clean electricity annually.
Supporting industrial growth and local development
Highveld Industrial Park is home several energy intensive tenants which depend on a steady supply of electricity to keep operating. With electricity costs continuing to rise and supply remaining unpredictable, generating more of its own power gives the park greater control over its energy needs.
Adding battery storage also lets it use more of the solar energy generated during the day. For businesses at the park, greater energy security means certainty when retaining jobs and planning for the future. This supports employment and economic activity in eMalahleni.
The benefits also extend beyond the park. A stronger industrial base contributes to economic activity in eMalahleni.
Solar and battery storage is becoming increasingly important as South African businesses look for ways to manage rising electricity costs. Huawei Digital Power works with project developers and businesses, supporting their use of renewable energy through its solar and battery storage solutions.
