AIKO, a solar photovoltaic technology manufacturer, has signed an agreement with Infinity Power, a major renewable energy developer in Africa, to supply high-efficiency All Back Contact (ABC) solar modules for three utility-scale solar projects in South Africa with a combined capacity of 773.5 MWp. The agreement marks the companies’ first collaboration in South Africa and increases their cumulative project partnership across Africa to more than 2 GWp.
Under the agreement, AIKO will supply approximately 1,195,136 high-power ABC solar modules for Infinity Power’s Highveld, Onderstepoort Solar 1 (OS1), and Onderstepoort Solar 2 (OS2) projects. The combined portfolio is expected to generate more than 1,871 GWh of renewable electricity annually, contributing to South Africa’s efforts to expand clean energy generation and strengthen its electricity supply.
The three projects were awarded under Bid Window 7 of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). They are expected to operate under planned 20-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Eskom, South Africa’s electricity utility.
The projects will be executed through two Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) packages. Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy will undertake EPC responsibilities for the Highveld solar project, while PowerChina Guizhou Engineering will execute the Onderstepoort Solar 1 and Onderstepoort Solar 2 developments.
Located in Mpumalanga province, the Highveld solar project is expected to generate sufficient renewable electricity to supply approximately 167,000 households while avoiding an estimated 660,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The Onderstepoort Solar 1 and 2 projects, located in South Africa’s North West province, are projected to generate enough electricity to serve approximately 289,000 households and avoid more than 1.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Together, the three projects are expected to provide renewable electricity equivalent to the consumption of approximately 456,000 households and avoid around 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, based on publicly available estimates.
Infinity Power secured a total allocation of 1.28 GW of solar capacity under REIPPPP Bid Window 7, representing the largest allocation among successful bidders in the procurement round. The company develops, constructs, and operates utility-scale solar and wind energy projects across Africa, supporting the continent’s growing demand for renewable electricity.
Commenting on the agreement, Ahmed Zakaria, Director of EPC and Strategic Procurement at Infinity Power, highlighted AIKO’s technical capabilities and previous project delivery performance as key factors influencing the company’s selection.
He stated that AIKO’s ability to meet technical requirements and maintain reliable delivery commitments across earlier projects in Egypt supported the decision to extend the partnership into South Africa. Zakaria also emphasized the importance of high-efficiency solar technology in ensuring competitive project economics and reliable execution under the REIPPPP framework.
For the three South African projects, AIKO will supply its AIKO-A645/650-GRH66Dw ABC solar modules, which offer conversion efficiencies of up to 24.1%. The modules were selected for their high power output, energy generation performance, and suitability for utility-scale solar installations operating under challenging environmental conditions.
According to AIKO, the higher power output of its ABC modules can reduce the number of panels required to achieve the targeted generation capacity. This can also lower balance-of-system costs associated with mounting structures, cabling, and other supporting infrastructure, improving overall project economics.
The company highlighted the importance of these performance characteristics in South Africa’s competitive renewable energy procurement market, where declining auction tariffs have increased the need for cost-efficient solar technologies.
The ABC modules are also designed to maintain stable performance under high-temperature and high-irradiance conditions. Their temperature coefficient is intended to reduce power losses during elevated temperatures, supporting improved electricity generation throughout the operational life of the projects.
AIKO stated that the modules feature a first-year degradation rate of no more than 1%, followed by an annual degradation rate of 0.35% from the second through the thirtieth year. These characteristics are expected to support long-term generation stability throughout the planned 20-year PPA period.
The company will also provide module production and delivery traceability, with supply schedules coordinated according to the requirements of the two EPC packages. This approach is intended to support project execution and maintain delivery certainty across the three development sites.
The South African agreement represents the third major collaboration between AIKO and Infinity Power in Africa. Their previous partnerships include the 258.5 MWp Nefer Benban solar project and the 1.2 GWp Nefer Menya solar project in Egypt.
With the addition of the 773.5 MWp South African portfolio, the combined capacity of projects covered by the companies’ collaboration has exceeded 2 GWp, reflecting the expansion of their renewable energy partnership across the continent.
The agreement highlights the growing importance of high-efficiency photovoltaic technologies in Africa’s utility-scale solar market, particularly as developers seek to improve energy yields, optimize construction costs, and secure long-term project performance.
The planned deployment of AIKO’s ABC solar modules across the three Infinity Power projects is expected to support South Africa’s renewable energy expansion while contributing to electricity supply diversification, emissions reduction, and the development of large-scale clean energy infrastructure.
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