The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved a trading licence for NOA Group Trading, subsidiary of NOA Group, allowing the company to aggregate power from independent renewable energy producers and supply it to customers nationwide.

The approval is part of South Africa’s broader shift towards a more competitive electricity market where private energy traders can buy electricity from independent power producers (IPPs) and sell it to consumers. While similar trading models exist, NOA Trading’s approach – sourcing power from multiple renewable sources such as solar, wind and battery storage – aims to simplify procurement for customers.

“Our trading licence allows us to procure power from trusted independent power producers, alongside our own generation fleet, and wheel this electricity to Eskom and municipal-connected customers nationwide,” said Karel Cornelissen, CEO of NOA Group.

The first agreements concluded under NOA Trading’s new licence are two generator power purchase agreements for 140 MW and 94,5 MW wind projects. The company plans to supply energy through structured agreements that cater to large and small consumers.

NERSA’s licensing framework is part of broader efforts to introduce competition in South Africa’s electricity market, supporting increased private-sector participation in power generation and distribution.

NOA Trading operates as part of the NOA Group’s structure, which includes generation assets, operations and trading activities. While its asset and operations divisions focus on power generation, the trading division facilitates electricity procurement from in-house facilities and third-party IPPs.