Search engine Google has announced that it plans to invest $12 million in a renewable energy Jasper Power project in the Northern Cape province in South Africa.

The Jasper project, which is a 96 megawatt solar photovoltaic plant, is expected to generate enough electricity to power 30,000 homes in the country.

According to Google’s official blog, the project developed and funded by SolarReserve, Intikon Energy and the Kensani Group, is also backed by Rand Merchant Bank, the Public Investment Corporation, Development Bank of South Africa and the PEACE Humansrus Trust.

Google said investing in the project means that it is assisting in the country’s mission of finding additional sources of electricity to power the nation other than the likes of coal.

“South Africa’s strong resources and supportive policies for renewable energy make it an attractive place to invest, which is why it had the highest growth in clean energy investment in the world last year,” reads a statement from the Google blog.

“We look for projects that have transformative potential… The Jasper Power Project is one of those transformative opportunities,” it continues.

The project is also expected to create some 300 construction and 50 permanent jobs, as well as provide rural development and education programmes.

To date, Google says it has committed more than $1 billion to renewable energy investments in the US to Europe.