Renewable energy,built in partnership with the South African communities that power it.
AEEG was founded to give local communities a stake in the renewable-energy transition while bringing together the capital, expertise and execution capability required to deliver projects at institutional scale.
AEEG was founded on a simple principle: the people closest to the land should share in the value created by the renewable energy transition. We work alongside landowners, municipalities, and community organisations to develop solar farms on underutilised land, generating sustainable income, local jobs, and long-term economic benefits that strengthen communities for generations.
Aerial view of the Middelburg Solar Farm site in Mpumalanga, where construction is underway.
What we believe
Every megawatt we develop creates a long-term relationship between the landowner, the off-taker, and the community. That relationship is the product. The energy is what makes it work.
How we operate
We start with the land and the people on it. We don't develop from a distance. The land returns to its owner at decommissioning, restored. The income runs for the life of the project. We measure ourselves on what we've delivered, not on what we've announced.
Executive Team
Karen Metcalf
Founder and CEO
Karen is the Founder and CEO of African Earth Energy Group, with more than 20 years of international experience across the corporate, academic and government sectors in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. Her career includes senior leadership roles at Elsevier and LexisNexis, where she worked with governments, universities and businesses to expand access to research, digital solutions and STEM development in emerging markets. Raised on the Cape Flats, Karen saw firsthand how employment and investment can transform communities, shaping her belief that development should create lasting local opportunity. She founded AEEG to advance Africa’s clean-energy transition while generating sustainable economic value through employment, skills development, local procurement and meaningful community participation.
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Gerard Bruijnse
Board member
Gerard brings three decades of entrepreneurial experience across installation and renewable energy, with hands-on knowledge of every stage of a project — from development and funding through to construction and operational maintenance. Having worked at every level of the energy supply chain, he turns that perspective into solid, bankable concepts for energy efficiency and renewable generation. He is a co-founder and board member of companies including Renesco and GreenIPP, and serves on the boards of several others focused on creating value from energy that is currently wasted. Gerard holds an Executive MBA from Nyenrode Business University and is a member of merit of Techniek Nederland, the Dutch association of installation companies.
Jaap Buter
Board member
Jaap was a partner at PwC Accountants in Alkmaar until 2017, serving mainly national business-to-business clients. He now works as an independent business advisor specialising in estate planning, corporate finance, and complex acquisitions, mergers and demergers, advising companies on operations, funding and succession. He is also an active member and investor at Kaasstad Kapitaal. For AEEG, Jaap has been closely involved in setting up the legal structure in the Netherlands and South Africa, and as a member of the Investor Oversight Committee he keeps a critical eye on the company's goals and results.
Aziez Soekha
Board member
Aziez is a co-founder of Noord Ventures, an early-stage technology investor, where he leads finance, strategy and legal and gives founders the structures and capital to scale with confidence. Before Noord he spent fifteen years building Fish on Fire, a mobile-technology company that delivered for clients including KLM, Tata Steel, Essent and TUI before its acquisition by Digital Kings Group in 2024. As an investor in AEEG, he brings that operator's discipline and a builder's conviction — start with a clear vision, execute with precision, think big — to financing and scaling South Africa's energy transition.
Social Impact
Renewable energy projects do more than generate power; they create jobs, strengthen local economies, and bring long-term infrastructure investment into the communities where they are built.
Across our portfolio, we prioritise local employment during both construction and operations, creating opportunities for skills development, workforce participation, and long-term economic inclusion. Beyond direct jobs, our projects support local businesses through procurement, contractor engagement, and community partnerships.
We believe every project should leave a lasting legacy. That means investing in the people, skills, and infrastructure that help communities benefit from the energy transition long after construction is complete. Because every community is different, our approach is tailored to local needs, ensuring that social impact is built into each project from the ground up.
Let's talk
Whether you're an investor, a government partner, or looking to join the team — the first conversation starts here.