Google has closed its first renewable energy project in the African continent last week, investing 12 million U.S. dollars in a solar energy project in South Africa.

According to an announcement made on Monday by Photon International, the total investment of Jasper solar project by the U.S. search-engine giant hit 260 million U. S. dollars, a 96 megawatt solar photovoltaic plant developed in the Northern Cape.

Google gave credit to the supportive polices for renewable energy in the biggest economy in Africa, which had the highest growth rate in clean energy investment last year, the announcement put on its official blog said.

"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," the announcement said.

Google, whose renewable energy projects in Africa will be primarily in geothermal in eastern Africa, has invested more than 1 billion dollars in renewable energy projects, mostly in the U. S. and Europe. Endi