Africa Data Centers (ADC), which is owned by Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, recently signed a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Distributed Power Africa (DPA) to supply its facilities in South Africa with renewable solar energy.
The move comes in the midst of ongoing electricity shortages that have resulted in extended blackouts for many homes and businesses in South Africa, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint the country’s first minister of electricity.
To overcome the challenges caused by the failing power grid, data center operators are forced to seek alternative energy sources, with renewable energy being the immediate solution — a path that Africa Data Centers has now chosen to take.
The new agreement between Africa Data Centers (ADC) and Distributed Power Africa (DPA) SA is set to usher in a new era of clean energy for ADC’s facilities in South Africa. Under the terms of the deal, DPA will supply 12 MW of renewable solar energy, partly from the solar farm the company is developing near Bloemfontein.
This agreement is a significant step towards ADC’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality, as it will provide over 30 percent of the company’s South African data centers with renewable energy. Furthermore, for Distributed Power Africa, the deal is an opportunity to showcase its innovative approach to deploying renewable energy solutions.
ADC is a leading carrier-neutral data center provider that is affiliated with Cassava Technologies, a group specializing in fiber and telecom solutions. Cassava Technologies was founded by Strive Masiyiwa, who is not only Zimbabwe’s wealthiest individual but also one of Africa’s leading tech billionaires.
ADC is not only Africa’s largest but also the most interconnected network of carrier- and cloud-neutral data center facilities. The company’s mission is to provide essential infrastructure to support organizations in achieving their digital goals.
Recently, ADC announced its plans to establish a new data center facility in Nairobi, demonstrating its commitment to meeting the increasing demand for data center services in the region.
By targeting Kenya as a strategic location, ADC aims to spearhead the country’s transition into the digital era and bolster its global reputation as an attractive destination for international cloud providers, hyperscalers, and other ICT companies.
