AIKO to Ship 1.19 Million ABC Modules for 773.5 MWp of Infinity Power Solar in South Africa

AIKO will provide 1,195,136 high-efficiency ABC (All Back Contact) modules for three utility-scale solar projects that Infinity Power is developing in South Africa, under an agreement announced on Oct. 9, 2026.

Modules Slated for Three REIPPPP Bid Window 7 Projects

The combined 773.5 MWp portfolio, comprising the Highveld, Onderstepoort Solar 1 (OS1) and Onderstepoort Solar 2 (OS2) projects, is expected to generate more than 1,871 GWh of energy annually. All three projects were awarded under Bid Window 7 of South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and will operate under planned 20-year power purchase agreements with Eskom.

Construction will proceed under two EPC packages: Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy will handle Highveld, while PowerChina Guizhou Engineering will deliver OS1 and OS2. The announcement also marks the first time the two companies are working together in South Africa, and it lifts their cumulative project collaboration across Africa beyond the 2 GWp mark.

Eskom PPAs and Two EPC Packages Anchor Execution

Infinity Power secured the largest allocation of any successful bidder in Bid Window 7, taking home 1.28 GW of solar capacity in the round. The company, described as the largest African pure-play renewable energy provider, develops, builds, and operates large-scale solar and wind projects across the continent. Ahmed Zakaria, Director of EPC and Strategic Procurement at Infinity Power, cited AIKO's ability to meet the company's technical requirements and the reliable delivery commitment it had witnessed across projects in Egypt.

He said AIKO's ABC technology delivers the efficiency and execution certainty needed for large-scale projects under the REIPPPP framework, and that the company looks forward to bringing the full portfolio into commercial operation.

Highveld and Onderstepoort Sites Set for 1.7 Million Tonnes of Annual CO₂ Savings

The Highveld project sits in Mpumalanga province. Once operational, it is expected to produce enough clean energy to power approximately 167,000 homes while avoiding roughly 660,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. Onderstepoort Solar 1 and 2 are located in the northwest of the country. T

ogether they are expected to supply power for approximately 289,000 homes and avoid more than 1.1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Across the full Infinity Power portfolio, estimated annual CO2 emissions avoided reach approximately 1.7 million tonnes, based on public estimates.

Falling Tariffs Put Module Economics at the Center of the Award

The module selected for the portfolio is the AIKO-A645/650-GRH66Dw, chosen on the strength of both performance and execution credentials. The REIPPPP was launched to address South Africa's energy crisis, and tender tariffs have fallen with each successive round, making project economics a decisive factor in module selection.

The high power output of the ABC modules reduces the total module count and cuts balance-of-system components such as mounting structures and cabling, lowering overall system costs and keeping the projects economically competitive under the auction mechanism. Efficiency across the module line reaches up to 24.1%.

In South Africa's high-irradiance, high-temperature conditions, the modules' superior temperature coefficient maintains more stable power output, lifting energy yield across the full project lifecycle. Degradation performance also factored into the selection: first-year degradation of 1% or less, followed by 0.35% annually from years 2 to 30, secures stable generation throughout the 20-year PPA term, supporting long-term returns and project bankability. Full traceability across module production and delivery, combined with a delivery schedule aligned to the two EPC packages, adds further certainty of execution across the three sites.

Third Joint Venture in Africa After Benban and Menya in Egypt

The South African agreement is the third collaboration between AIKO and Infinity Power on the continent, following the 258.5 MWp Benban project and the 1.2 GWp Menya project in Egypt. With cumulative cooperation now exceeding 2 GWp, the companies describe the expanding partnership as reflecting a global benchmark developer's sustained confidence in the efficiency and reliability of ABC technology, as well as recognition of AIKO's supply capabilities and product quality.

Infinity Power Targets 10 GW by 2032 as Portfolio Grows

Infinity Power is a joint venture between Infinity and Masdar. It targets power generation projects in Africa through renewable energy sources, namely solar and wind, along with other technologies such as battery storage, with an aim of reaching 10 GW of operational capacity by 2032.

The company currently operates a portfolio of approximately 1.3 GW across Egypt, South Africa and Senegal, helping to avoid more than 3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. A further 6.3 GW of wind and solar capacity is under development, including 3.8 GW in advanced development.

ABC Technology Backs Developer's Bid for Scale

AIKO specializes in the research, development and manufacturing of solar generation products, offering solar cells, ABC modules and scenario-based packaged solutions. The company operates under the mission of "Leading Humanity into the Carbon-Free Era." For its part, Infinity Power's selection of the technology for its largest single bidding-round allocation underscores the role module performance plays as South Africa's procurement program continues to push tariffs downward and developers compete on delivered cost and long-term generation certainty.