Slim Sun, Swartland Solar Park

• Currently only about 85% of South Africa’s population have access to electricity and the country’s demand is expected to double in the next 20 years. Large-scale national electrification interventions have provided a foundation for many communities to improve their economic well-being, health and quality of life, but around 8 million people still lack access to electricity.
• The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has been designed by public authorities to encourage private companies to assist in reaching a targeted production of 10,000 GWh of renewable energy. This is equivalent to about 5% of the present electricity generation in South Africa, and is the amount of electricity required for approximately 2 million households. Projects which succeed to take part in the program are able to sell their production to the national grid at previously agreed tariffs. 
• Local job creation, local ownership, and economic and socio-economic development are criteria which the projects must fulfill to qualify for the REIPPPP. 
• Photovoltaic is emerging as a major power source due to its numerous environmental and economic benefits and proven reliability. It is the fastest growing power generation technology in the world. 
• The South African government aims to have photovoltaic energy supplying 19.7% of the country’s renewable energy by 2030 as part of increasing and diversifying the sustainable energy mix.

• The project is expected to generate approximately 8.7GWh of clean energy per annum – enough to power around 5,000 houses in the area. This will enable the mitigation of approximately 10'050 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year through the substitution of dirtier coal-powered generation alternatives. 
• SlimSun is taking part in the REIPPPP as a small independent power producer and has set itself the target to use the lowest amount of water per unit of electricity in comparison to all other independent power producers. 
• SlimSun’s participation in REIPPPP would not have been possible without both the financial and the resource investment made by Evolution One. The Fund was integrally involved from project inception as adviser to develop the strategy, systems and procedures required to fully inform the business structure of SlimSun. 
• Technology and skills transfer form a key part of the process and contribute to the social development of the community. During construction, 88 temporary jobs have been created for unskilled or poorly skilled laborers who live within a 50km radius of the project site and five permanent jobs will be created for the operation of the project.
• Approximately 35% (USD 3.6 million) of the total investment will be deployed locally and will contribute the economic development of the community. 

• The Swartland Community Trust has been created with an allocated 20% share as part of the black economic empowerment scheme; it is structured to channel revenue shares of more than USD 4.7 million to local community projects over the course of the project’s life, projected to be a minimum of 20 years. 

Obviam has made reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of the data presented. A case study is made possible both through Obviam’s first-hand experience and/or the information provided by Obviam’s investment partners. Data is valid as per the date recorded.