DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Yellow Door Energy (YDE), the sustainable energy partner for commercial and industrial businesses across the Middle East and Africa, has reached financial close with Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (Nedbank CIB) on the 49 MWp Lion Thorn Solar Park in Leeudoringstad, North West Province, South Africa.

Nedbank CIB is providing project financing for the utility-scale plant, allowing construction to proceed. Construction was scheduled to begin in September 2026, with commissioning expected in 2028. The value of the financing has not been disclosed.

Backed by long-term offtake

Lion Thorn is supported by long-term power purchase agreements with PPC and POWERX, a private electricity trader licensed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). The model connects clean generation in the North West with commercial customers located elsewhere in the country.

Once operational, the solar park is expected to generate around 115 GWh of clean electricity in its first year and avoid an estimated 104,190 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

John Taylor, Managing Director of Yellow Door Energy South Africa, described the financial close as “an important milestone for Yellow Door Energy.” He said it shows the company’s ability to develop bankable, large-scale renewable energy projects in South Africa. He added that the plant will deliver reliable, cost-effective clean electricity to customers while supporting energy security, economic growth and the country’s move to a lower-carbon future.

Supporting South Africa’s energy transition

The project adds new renewable generation capacity to South Africa’s electricity system at a time when private investment in the sector is accelerating. It will help diversify the country’s energy supply and meet rising demand for reliable, lower-carbon power.

Lion Thorn builds on Yellow Door Energy’s growing South African pipeline, which includes 240 MWp of solar wheeling capacity secured in the country. In the Gulf, the company has recently signed agreements with PureHealth in the UAE and Sadafco in Saudi Arabia, and commissioned a solar carport for Procter & Gamble in Dubai.

About Yellow Door Energy

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Dubai, Yellow Door Energy helps businesses secure their energy supply, lower electricity costs and reduce carbon emissions through solar leases and power purchase agreements. The company has a portfolio of around 400 MWp of solar assets in operation, construction and planning across seven countries, and has generated more than 1 billion kWh of clean electricity. Its shareholders are Actis, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and The Arab Energy Fund (TAEF).

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Yellow Door Energy
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +971 4 454 3033