In a significant move to boost South Africa’s renewable energy sector, the Electricity and Energy Department has appointed eight bidders to supply solar energy, with a total investment of R31.4 billion. This development is part of the department’s efforts to procure 1,800 megawatts of energy, following a request made in December last year ¹.
The eight successful bidders were selected from a pool of 48 bid responses, totaling over 10.2 gigawatts, with 40 bids from solar and eight from onshore wind projects. Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa highlighted that the bidders have committed to creating nearly 7,000 job opportunities for South African citizens.
To promote local economic growth, the bidders have also agreed to allocate 38% of their total project costs to local content, expected to amount to R7.8 billion during construction and R2.8 billion during the operation and maintenance phases.
This development is a significant step towards increasing South Africa’s renewable energy capacity, and the department is considering appointing additional bidders to further accelerate the country’s energy transition.
