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- Government has launched the long-awaited Bid Window 7, which will see the procurement of 5 000 MW of renewable energy.
- The projects should be able to come online in shorter timeframes, given the energy crisis.
- Government also has plans to procure 2 500 MW of nuclear energy.
- For climate change news and analysis, go to News24 Climate Future.
Government has launched the long-awaited Bid Window 7, seeking to procure 5 000 MW of new generation capacity.
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has invited independent power producers to submit bids for 1 800 MW of solar PV and 3 200 MW of wind power.
The department said that Bid Window 7 projects should be able to become operational in shorter timelines, given the urgency of the energy crisis:
The department will host a bidders' conference on 17 January 2024 that will provide more details on the procurement requirements.
Bid submissions are required by 30 April 2024. Announcements of preferred bidders should follow approximately three months later.
REIPPPP Bid Window 7 announced.1800 MW of Solar PV and 3200 MW of Wind Power.https://t.co/jaRr17fJIb pic.twitter.com/OdlyyhMMhm
— Francis B. Jackson (@FrancisBJackson) December 14, 2023
First gas procurement round launched
Government on Thursday also launched the first procurement round for gas-fired power projects of 2 000 MW.
"This round specifically targets land-based electricity generation facilities utilising natural gas, located anywhere within the borders of the Republic of South Africa," the department said in a statement.
The second Battery Energy Storage Bid Window was also announced and calls for 615 MW of battery energy storage capacity. Eight storage facilities are sought in the North West Supply Area, the department said. Government in November, announced the preferred bidders for the first battery energy storage procurement round - these are EDF Development and Scatec. The projects will store a collective 513 MW at some of Eskom's substations in the Northern Cape and North West provinces.
Government also recently announced plans to procure 2 500 MW of new nuclear power – set to come on stream in 2032 or 2033.
Cabinet has also recently approved the Integrated Resource Plan of 2023 - which maps out the country's future energy mix. It is yet to be gazetted for public comment.
South Africa has had 335 days of load shedding this year, according to The Outlier and EskomSePush, which have been tracking the power outages.
This article was updated at 17:30 on 14 December 2023 to indicate that new procurement rounds for gas and battery energy storage were also announced.
