South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme Bid Window 7 has named Engie as a preferred bidder for a 240-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) project.
The programme aims to strengthen the country’s pipeline of utility-scale renewable power as it seeks to stabilise electricity supply and accelerate its energy transition.
The project, known as the Corona PV project, will be developed near Virginia in the Free State. The province has emerged as a strategic hub for large-scale solar generation due to high annual irradiation levels (2,100-2,300 kWh/m²) and available land. Once completed, the plant will feed electricity directly into the national grid.
Construction by Engie is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, with commercial operations targeted for the fourth quarter of 2028. At full capacity, the project will add 240 MW of clean generation capacity.
The award forms part of the government’s broader drive to procure new generation capacity through competitive bidding, following years of constrained electricity supply, ageing infrastructure and delayed grid expansion. Bid Window 7 focuses on rapidly deployable renewable energy projects to close the supply gap and support long-term decarbonisation goals.
Mohamed Hoosen, chief executive officer and managing director for renewables in Asia, the Middle East and Africa at Engie, said the project was designed to deliver benefits beyond electricity generation.
“The project is about creating real value for the people and places around it. As we move into the delivery phase, we are committed to working hand-in-hand with local communities to make sure the benefits are meaningful and lasting.”
Engie already has a significant footprint in South Africa’s renewable energy sector, with an installed and contracted portfolio exceeding 1.2 GW across wind, solar and concentrated solar power projects.
The solar award also comes as South Africa grapples with grid congestion, particularly in renewable-rich regions such as the Northern Cape and parts of the Free State.
Limited transmission capacity has become a key bottleneck, slowing the connection of new generation projects, despite strong investor interest. – ESG Now News
