Africa Data Centres and DPA SA have broken ground on their solar farm in the Free State; The first phase will see power getting wheeled to its CPT1 facility; The second phase will see power being supplied to JHB1 and JHB2 once wheeling agreements with relevant municipalities conclude. 

Africa Data Centres, a business of the Cassava Technologies group, is pleased to announce that it has broken ground on the construction of a solar farm in the Free State in collaboration with DPA Southern Africa.

This announcement forms a crucial component of the 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) inked in March 2023 with DPA Southern Africa a joint company of the French utility, EDF. The objective of the Free State farm is to furnish renewable energy to Africa Data Centres sites, commencing with its cutting-edge, carrier-neutral data centre in Cape Town, the CPT1 facility.

According to Cassava Technologies’ President and Group CEO, Hardy Pemhiwa, “This initiative positions Africa Data Centres as a trailblaser in the data centre industry in responding to South Africa’s energy crisis through sustainable technology solutions. This is in line with a broader industry shift towards innovative, eco-friendly practices. The strategic use of solar power showcases technology’s role in pioneering solutions for energy challenges and environmental sustainability”.

Furthermore, Tesh Durvasula, CEO of Africa Data Centres, underscores the commitment to powering all data centres with clean, renewable energy sources. “Today’s announcement represents a significant stride in our initiative to energise South African data centres sustainably, advancing our objective of achieving carbon neutrality. The first phase involves constructing the 12MW solar infrastructure to power our Cape Town data centre, with subsequent phases extending to our Johannesburg data centres.”

Nawfal El Fadil, the CEO of DPA SA, states, “Africa Data Centres, as a pioneer in the data centre industry, has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability, aligning seamlessly with our company’s values. We are thrilled and honoured to contribute to Africa Data Centres’ mission of achieving carbon neutrality, beginning with the establishment of this solar power plant in the Free State to serve their data centre in Cape Town. At the heart of our collaboration lies a shared understanding that the path to carbon neutrality extends beyond infrastructure—it demands innovation, expertise, and collective determination to overcome challenges. DPA SA, backed by EDF’s legacy, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in delivering high-quality, sustainable energy solutions to this partnership.”

“We take immense pride in supporting Africa Data Centres on this journey, being among the pioneers in launching a wheeling solar plant, thereby paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future in South Africa,” adds Nawfal El Fadil.

This project is a key element of Africa Data Centres’ ambitious plans to emerge as the most sustainable colocation provider on the continent. “Beyond procuring renewable energy, our commitment to an efficiency strategy has earned us the internationally recognised ISO50001 certification for the effective operation of our data centres,” Durvasula elaborates.

“Data centres worldwide face scrutiny for their reliance on grid power and renewables, and Africa is no exception. Africa Data Centres is actively addressing this issue by generating renewable energy, alleviating strain on the local grid. Additionally, our sustainability objectives encompass achieving net-zero status at all facilities, making this project another significant stride towards reaching that goal,” concludes Durvasula.

Now Read: Kenya’s EcoCloud and UAE’s G42 to develop world-class 1 Gigawatt data center powered by geothermal energy.

In an unprecedented move that positions Kenya at the forefront of the global digital economy, His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto has proudly witnessed the MoU signing between EcoCloud and G42, a pioneering project destined to revolutionize the digital landscape not just in East Africa, but across the globe. Powered by the untapped potential of Kenya’s 10 gigawatts of geothermal energy, the mega data center is the first of its kind in scale and ambition, heralding a new era of green energy-driven digital infrastructure.

Strategically located in Kenya’s geothermal-rich region, the EcoCloud-G42 Mega Data Center is planned to have initial capacity of 100 MW, but with the potential to build up to 1 Gigawatt, setting a new standard for sustainable data centers. This initiative is not just an investment in technology but a bold statement of Kenya’s commitment to harnessing renewable energy for technological advancement. By leveraging the earth’s heat, the project dramatically cuts fossil fuel dependence, slashes carbon emissions, and stands as a beacon of environmental stewardship. The collaboration between EcoCloud, a trailblazer in data center development, and G42, the leading UAE-based technology conglomerate, marks a significant leap in Kenya’s journey toward becoming a digital hub. This strategic partnership underlines a shared vision for fostering a robust digital infrastructure that not only accelerates the country’s digital transformation but also fortifies its position as a leader in technology-driven development.

This strategic agreement was signed by Eng. Amos Siwoi, CEO of EcoCloud and Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, leading the UAE delegation, in the presence of His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya and Dr. Salim Ibrahim Binahmed Mohammed Alnaqbi, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Kenya. 

This partnership is not just about erecting a digital infrastructure; it’s a foundation for a comprehensive ecosystem that includes cloud services and artificial intelligence, catering to the vibrant and youthful population of Kenya. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between these giants extends beyond infrastructure, aiming to usher in an era of cloud computing and AI services. This initiative promises to unlock unprecedented economic opportunities, stimulate innovation, and drive the digital economy forward, making Kenya the center of technological innovation in Africa and a competitive player on the global stage.

Eng. Amos Siwoi, CEO of EcoCloud said: “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability and innovation. By harnessing the power of geothermal energy, we are not only meeting the region’s data needs but also setting a new standard for eco-friendly infrastructure. This partnership underscores our dedication to a greener, more sustainable future for Africa and beyond.”

Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42 said: “In establishing this strategic partnership with EcoCloud, G42 is proud to be at the forefront of combining groundbreaking technology with sustainability. This geothermal-powered data center is a milestone towards realizing Kenya’s potential as a global digital hub and fulfilling our mission of making intelligence accessible to everyone, everywhere.”  

The launch of this mega data center is a clear call for innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. It invites the world to witness Kenya’s transformation into a digital hub, powered by green energy and driven by the unwavering vision of its leaders.

See: How Congolese Youth Are Using Technology to Make a Difference

This article was first published by OpenMap Development Tanzania

“Open Skies Fellows,” a fellowship program led by OpenMap Development Tanzania in collaboration with Uhurulabs and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, is designed to support youth and give them a chance and responsibility to gain social and technological skills to leverage their potential to solve community challenges using technology.

In 2022 OSF expanded its wings to DRC where we explore the minds of young people, the selection of fellows started with a week-long workshop where 22 girls showed up with awesome project ideas at the workshop, and by January 2023, 10 projects that stood out the most were selected and got a chance to be funded.

This blog covers the projects that were conducted by the first cohort of fellows in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

For the first cohort of Openskies in DRC, there are 10 projects, all of which serve a purpose in our society, whether it is climate change issues, education, finance, energy issues, agriculture, or afforestation and deforestation issues.

Water-related projects

In the first cohort, 3 of the 10 projects were based on Water Systems and how technologies can be used to provide water in good quality and quantity,

Marceline Nsimire worked on photovoltaic pumping, which is a system consisting of using solar panels to power a water pump, making it possible to draw water from a natural source such as a well or a river and store it in reservoirs for later use. The use of solar energy to drive the pump offers a sustainable and economical solution for irrigating crops, watering livestock, or supplying households with drinking water.

Rachel Kiwewa developed an automatic water distribution system, which automatically extracts the exact amount of water in liters requested from a water well, using an Arduino microcontroller, ultrasonic sensor, LCD SCREEN, and point of sale powered by solar. And the last one

Dieuvie Iyaba developed a smart water meter with an application that is a tool that allows you to measure water flows and then transmits it to an application that will help users track water consumption and see real-time billing.

Projects related to Apps development

Four fellows developed tools that can work with application, meaning it doesn’t need humans. Been to work, it can work even at a distance without an effort made by a human.

First, we have Grace and Ena, two fellows who worked together on a project called Fungola Car a tracking system consisting of an electronic kit with a GPS receiver receiving location coordinates, direction, speed, altitude, and time from surrounding satellites every 4 seconds. The latter communicates to a mobile application serving as a user interface for the driver or owner, allowing them to see in real-time where the vehicle is and to lock and unlock it remotely if necessary.

The second one is Louange Bosso who developed a smart trash can with an application that is a computerized system put in place to detect the trash can, once the trash can is full, the application will send a notification to let the owner know that the trash is full, so she/he can take out the trash.

The third one is Valerie Bosaki who developed a traveling elevator that allows people to carry weight when working at high height places with much more safety while minimizing the risk of harming themselves this traveling elevator only concerns people who carry weight out work at high heights.

Then Amina developed an automatic and connected drip irrigation system by the name of Moloni tech which is an automatic and connected drip irrigation system that has its origins in IOT applied to agriculture, to help farmers irrigate their land efficiently and reduce their water consumption.

Solar Tracker by Dorcas Bangamingi She created a solar tracker. It’s a rotating solar panel system that traps solar energy in the panel and then transforms it into electricity. When there is no electricity, it can last up to 4 hours. It can rotate following the direction of the sun and it has an alarming system that can notify users through SMS for repair. The prototype that has been developed can only charge phones and switch on the light.

Transforming Organic Waste into Biogas: A Project for a Healthy Environment, a Diversified Economy, and Climate Change Mitigation

Developed by Nadege Mukanisa the vision of this project is to recover organic waste for a healthy environment and a diversified economy. The project is developed so it can help transform Organic Waste into Biogas: by Developing a system to efficiently transform organic waste into biogas for heating purposes. She is looking forward to reducing Youth unemployment by Creating employment opportunities, particularly for young individuals through the various phases of the project. Lastly, it addresses deforestation by providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional heating sources, contributing to the fight against global warming and climate change.

Despite COVID-19 hindering project implementation in the DRC, we have managed to get 10 strong projects that will make an impact on society, Since most people have a negative perception of this country this project implementation was a win-win and a way to show Africans that DRC is a safe country and has many innovative youth that are ready to change the world.

For more insight into the Open Skies Program visit: https://openskiesfellows.org/