SOUTH AFRICA – TotalEnergies, the French multinational energy company, has officially commenced the construction of a cutting-edge 216 MW hybrid solar plant, complemented by a state-of-the-art 500 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.
With a substantial 35% stake, TotalEnergies spearheads this groundbreaking initiative in collaboration with Hydra Storage Holding, which also holds a 35% stake, and local black empowerment partner Reatile Renewables, possessing a 30% stake in the venture.
This project, awarded to the TotalEnergies-led consortium in 2021, is a pivotal component of South Africa’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (RMIPPPP), an initiative launched by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy aimed at enhancing the nation’s power generation capacity and alleviating electricity supply constraints.
The solar-storage hybrid power plant achieved financial close on December 14, 2023, and is slated to commence operations in 2025. It will supply power to South Africa’s national utility, Eskom, under a robust 20-year power purchase agreement.
Vincent Stoquart, Senior Vice President, Renewables at TotalEnergies, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “Together with our partners, we are pleased to launch this major solar power generation and storage project in South Africa.
“Thanks to its innovative hybrid design, it will enable us to supply continuous green electricity over a longer period and beyond the hours of sunshine. This project will not only contribute to the country’s energy transition but also strengthen the resilience of its power system.”
This solar-storage hybrid power plant serves as a significant addition to TotalEnergies’ expanding portfolio of solar projects in South Africa.
The company currently holds an interest in the operational 86 MW Prieska solar power plant in the Northern Cape since 2016.
Furthermore, TotalEnergies is actively developing a 120 MW solar power plant and a 140 MW wind farm in the Northern Cape, designed to supply approximately 850 GWh of renewable energy to Sasol’s Secunda site, where Air Liquide operates the world’s largest oxygen production facility.
Aligning with its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, TotalEnergies is strategically building a diverse portfolio encompassing renewables (solar, onshore and offshore wind) and flexible assets (CCGT, storage) to deliver clean firm power to its customers
As of the close of 2023, TotalEnergies’ gross renewable electricity generation installed capacity stood at an impressive 22 GW.
The company has outlined plans for further expansion, targeting 35 GW in 2025 and exceeding 100 TWh of net electricity production by 2030.
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