Govt signs agreements with 13 renewable energy providers

The department of mineral resources and energy has signed agreements with 13 renewable energy providers.

At least six more preferred bidders under bid window five of government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme are yet to close and are in discussions with the department to conclude procurement.

These projects are expected to add 975MW of energy to the grid over the next 24 months and have attracted investment of some R34.3 billion.

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“Once all conditions precedent have been met and projects have reached commercial and financial close, they will enter into the construction period, which is expected to be 24 months. The new generation capacity should therefore be online from 2025.

“With the signing of these 13 agreements, the department has now concluded 19 out of the 25 announced projects under bid window five, which will add an overall total of 1 759MW renewable capacity to the national grid. This comprises 784MW from onshore wind technologies and 975MW from solar PV,” the department said.

The projects are expected to create some 7 701 job opportunities and provide training and skills development opportunities.

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“[The] bid window achieved an overall 49.2% South African ownership, of which the total broad-based black economic Empowerment ownership amounts to 36.2%.”

– SAnews.gov.za