Mulilo Energy expands senior workforce by 77%

From the newsletter

South African renewable energy developer Mulilo Energy has increased its senior staff by 77% (64 new personnel) over the past 12 months. This is according to LinkedIn data tracked by Renewables Rising. Just last month, the company won 80% of the preferred bids for battery energy storage projects in South Africa, totalling approximately 1,972 MWh.

• Mulilo's total workforce now stands at 147, up from 83 a year ago. Over the past three weeks, we have continuously seen open advertisements for top talent by Mulilo Energy in our Job boards. The company advertised 9 roles in this period.

• Mulilo secured a $200 million investment from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners in 2023 and has since won more utility-scale battery projects in South Africa than any of its rivals, despite a growing number of competitive entries.

More details

• Mulilo aims to bring 5,000 MW of renewable energy and battery energy storage projects into construction and operation by 2028. The company currently operates 420 MW of wind and solar projects, with 667 MW in construction, approximately 1500 MW nearing Financial Close and has a long-term development pipeline of over 30,000 MW.

• Unlike peers we compared to, including Scatec ASA, Amea Power, among others, expanding geographically, Mulilo has kept operations concentrated in one office, implying a "deep, not wide" strategy.

• Senior staff at Mulilo average 12.5 years of experience, among the highest in the sector, but tenure is just 1.1 years, the lowest in the ranking. This might be because of rapid hiring to meet project deadlines, a common challenge for independent power producers (IPPs) scaling construction teams.

• The percentage of staff with master's degrees has shown a positive trend, increasing from 38% in March and April to 40% in May and June 2025. This might be indicative of the company's dedication to building a knowledge-intensive workforce, crucial for innovation and navigating complex technical and regulatory challenges in the energy sector, especially as they undertake large-scale, intricate projects like battery storage.

• Meanwhile, zero hires were in sales (down from 1 in March), suggesting a prioritisation of technical and project execution roles. This mirrors its recent focus on construction-phase projects, including the 240 MW Upington Solar PV plant.

Our take

• Mulilo’s expanded team must now convert project pipelines into operational assets. Its ability to leverage its highly educated, experienced workforce will determine its competitive edge in South Africa's crowded renewables market.

• The low average tenure signals potential retention challenges. Mulilo should prioritise integrating new hires through mentorship programs and clear career paths to preserve institutional knowledge.

• Continued expansion depends on consistent project financing and award wins. Market observers will watch for a correlation between Mulilo's staffing levels and financial close announcements in the coming quarters.