Huawei Backs PMC Solar Storage Project

June 15, 2025

Key Figures & Findings: Huawei Digital Power Sub-Saharan Africa has signed on as the exclusive OEM for the Palabora Mining Company (PMC) solar-plus-storage project, a flagship venture packaged by developer Journey 2 Green through its Mzansi Energy Consortium and announced at the 2025 SNEC Expo in Shanghai. The deal will deliver South Africa’s first utility-scale grid-forming system, pairing Huawei’s FusionSolar inverters with a dedicated 132 kV wheeling line that plugs straight into Eskom’s transmission network. According to the CEO of Huawei South Africa, Will Meng, and Journey 2 Green CEO Wessel Grid-forming, will not only be delivering energy, but a replicable model for public-private execution at scale. 

Statistics & Insights: The 132 kV corridor will wheel clean power into Eskom’s network, showcasing Huawei’s grid-forming firmware at utility scale. giving the Limpopo system proven grid support.

Future Implications:  If financial closure is secured by early 2026, operations could begin by late 2027, enabling PMC to cut its electricity costs by up to 30%. The project could pave the way for an estimated 5 GW of grid-forming infrastructure across South Africa by 2030, supporting national goals for energy stability and decarbonisation.