Pele Green Energy

What Pele Green Energy does

Pele Green Energy (PGE) is a South African Independent Power Producer (IPP) and a division of the Pele Energy Group, founded in 2009. The company develops, owns, acquires, builds, and operates renewable energy power plants, with a portfolio exceeding 2GW of clean energy capacity comprising utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, and battery storage assets. PGE serves two primary customer segments: large mining conglomerates requiring significant baseload energy supply for their operations, and South Africa's national utility Eskom under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The company is positioned as a pioneering black-owned and managed IPP in South Africa, with operations across multiple provinces including Free State, Northern Cape, North-West, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo.

PGE's core products are utility-scale renewable energy power plants, each typically structured as a separate Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). Operational and pipeline projects include the 100 MW Sonvanger Solar Power Plant in Free State Province (financial close November 2024 for the Glencore Merafe Venture), the 75 MW Graspan Solar PV plant in Northern Cape (developed with ENGIE under REIPPPP Bid Window 4), the 240 MW Mooi Plaats Solar Facility (commercial operations March 2026, supplying Valterra Platinum, De Beers, and Kumba Iron Ore), and the up to 100 MW Phofu Solar Power Plant (expected operational Q1 2028). Additional projects in licensing stages include the Copper, Highveld, Onderstepoort 1 & 2, Palladium, and Vanadium solar power plants. The company integrates battery storage into its portfolio and operates across the full energy value chain through services spanning project development, capital investment, construction management, and asset management.

Pele Green Energy generates revenue primarily through long-term (typically 20-year) Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with industrial offtakers and the national grid, producing recurring subscription-like revenue streams. Distribution occurs through three channels: the REIPPPP programme (supplying electricity to Eskom's national grid), private wheeling arrangements via Eskom's transmission infrastructure (delivering power to mining clients across multiple provinces), and direct B2B PPAs with mining conglomerates. In December 2023, PGE secured ZAR 2.5 billion (approximately $132 million) in debt financing from Nedbank Group and Norfund to fund its project pipeline. Pricing is determined through confidential PPA negotiations rather than publicly disclosed tariffs.

Name

Pele Green Energy

Legal name

Pele Green Energy

Website

https://pelegreenenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pele Green Energy is a South African Independent Power Producer developing, owning, and operating utility-scale renewable energy projects (solar, wind, battery storage) with a portfolio exceeding 2GW. It supplies electricity to mining conglomerates and Eskom through long-term power purchase agreements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Power Production (Renewable Energy Generation)

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Wind Electric Power Generation (221115), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar PV Power Plant EPC (Utility-Scale) (EUAEAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Wind Power Plant EPC (Onshore/Offshore) (EUAEAAAF), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)

Keywords

• Utility-scale solar power
• Renewable energy generation
• Wind power projects
• Battery storage systems
• Power purchase agreements

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Power Purchase Agreements (PPA): Long-term Power Purchase Agreements (typically 20 years) with commercial and industrial clients, mining companies, and government offtakers for renewable energy supply. Revenue is generated through electricity sales under these fixed-term contracts.
2. National Grid Supply: Supplying electricity to South Africa's national grid through REIPPPP programme allocations
3. Private Wheeling Arrangements: Supplying electricity to private industrial clients through wheeling arrangements with Eskom, delivering power to facilities in multiple provinces

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pele Green Energy is an Independent Power Producer that develops, owns, procures, constructs, and operates renewable energy power plants in South Africa. Its portfolio exceeds 2GW of clean energy comprising utility-scale solar PV (up to 100 MW per plant), wind energy, and battery storage assets. Electricity is delivered to commercial and industrial clients, mining conglomerates, and the national grid through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (typically 20 years), the REIPPPP programme, and private wheeling arrangements using Eskom's transmission infrastructure.

Product overview

Pele Green Energy is an Independent Power Producer that develops, owns, procures, constructs, and operates renewable energy power projects. The company's portfolio exceeds 2GW of clean energy comprising utility-scale wind and solar projects as well as battery storage. Key operational projects include the Sonvanger Solar Power Plant (100 MW) and Phofu Solar Power Plant (up to 100 MW, expected Q1 2028). The company operates across the full energy value chain through integrated service modules covering project development, capital raising, construction management, and asset management. Additional projects in development include Copper Solar Power Plant, Highveld Solar Power Plant, Onderstepoort Solar 1 and 2, Palladium Solar Power Plant, and Vanadium Solar Power Plant. Pele Green Energy supplies electricity to the national grid and serves private energy-intensive users through wheeling arrangements with Eskom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sonvanger Solar PV Power Plant 100 MW utility-scale solar photovoltaic power plant located approximately 4 km southwest of Theunissen in the Free State Province, South Africa. Developed under a Special Purpose Vehicle (Sonvanger Solar Power Plant (RF) (Pty) Ltd) by Pele Green Energy to supply renewable electricity to Glencore Operations South Africa under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement. Estimated to avoid approximately 1.82 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
• Phofu Solar Power Plant Up to 100 MW photovoltaic power plant in the Moqhaka Local Municipality, Free State Province, approximately 7 km northwest of Viljoenskroon, South Africa. Developed under Special Purpose Vehicle Phofu Solar Power Plant (RF) Pty Ltd to deliver clean power with expected operational date of Q1 2028.
• Mooi Plaats Solar Facility 240 MW solar facility supplying renewable electricity to multiple mining offtakers including Valterra Platinum, De Beers, and Kumba Iron Ore through long-term offtake agreements, supporting industrial decarbonisation and emissions reduction targets.
• Graspan Solar PV Plant 75 MW solar PV plant located in Northern Cape, South Africa, comprising over 200,000 solar panels. Developed in partnership with ENGIE under REIPPPP Bid Window 4, designed to generate clean electricity for approximately 80,000 homes.
• Wind Energy Projects Utility-scale wind power installations forming part of Pele Green Energy's diversified renewable energy portfolio exceeding 2GW, supplying clean electricity to commercial, industrial, and grid offtakers.
• Battery Storage Solutions Battery energy storage systems integrated into Pele Green Energy's renewable energy portfolio to support grid stability, time-shifting of generation, and reliable supply for industrial and grid offtakers.
• Small-Scale Embedded Generation Smaller distributed generation projects developed alongside Pele Green Energy's utility-scale plants, supplying renewable electricity to local commercial and industrial users including private wheeling arrangements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2GW+ clean energy portfolio capacity
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ENGIEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ENGIE for development of the 75 MW Graspan Solar PV plant in Northern Cape under REIPPPP Bid Window 4 programme. The project comprises over 200,000 solar panels and is expected to generate clean electricity for approximately 80,000 homes.
• Glencore Operations South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as developer by Glencore on behalf of the Glencore Merafe Pooling and Sharing Joint Venture to design, finance, build, own and operate the 100 MW Sonvanger Solar Photovoltaic Project in Free State Province.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scatec ASA: Norwegian-listed renewables developer and IPP with a significant operational footprint in South Africa under REIPPPP, developing, owning and operating utility-scale solar and storage assets for the same mining and Eskom offtake markets.
• ACWA Power: Saudi-listed global IPP active across multiple REIPPPP Bid Windows, developing utility-scale solar, wind and CSP in South Africa and competing head-to-head with Pele Green Energy for the same Eskom and private offtake contracts.
• Globeleq: UK-based emerging markets IPP focused exclusively on sub-Saharan Africa, developing and operating utility-scale renewable energy plants with similar private offtake and utility PPA structures to Pele.
• Mainstream Renewable Power: Ireland-headquartered renewables developer with a major South African presence under REIPPPP, focused on wind and solar PV utility-scale projects for the same national grid and private offtake markets.
• Lekela Power: Pan-African renewable energy IPP backed by Actis and Mainstream, developing and operating wind and solar projects across South Africa and the continent, competing directly for similar mining and utility offtakers.
• Mulilo Renewable Energy: South African renewables developer developing utility-scale solar PV and wind projects under REIPPPP and private offtake, targeting the same mining and industrial clients from a domestic base.
• BioTherm Energy: South African renewables IPP developing utility-scale wind and solar projects under REIPPPP with similar offtake profiles in mining and industrial sectors, directly comparable in scale and pipeline approach.

Broad incumbents

• ENGIE: French global energy major with a large South African renewables portfolio and existing co-development partnership with Pele Green Energy on Graspan, competing across multiple REIPPPP Bid Windows and utility-scale solar/wind bids.
• EDF Renewables: Global renewables arm of EDF Group, active in South African REIPPPP Bid Windows across utility-scale solar and wind, with broader portfolio and balance sheet than Pele but same target offtaker base.

Regional players

• juwi Renewable Energies: German renewables developer with selected African projects including South African utility-scale solar under REIPPPP, competing for similar mining and industrial wheeling contracts in the region.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pele Green Energy