South Africa made some progress toward adding new generation to its underpowered electricity grid, signing power purchase agreements for 150 megawatts of capacity from private projects by developer Scatec ASA that were selected a year ago.
The government’s emergency power programme, also known as the risk mitigation programme, has experienced multiple delays as the nation heads for a record year of electricity cuts because state-owned utility Eskom is unable to meet demand.
Read: Nersa fast-tracks solar power licences to ease strain on Eskom’s tottering power grid
The state signed agreements to buy a total of 150 megawatts of power capacity for three projects from the programme, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said on Thursday.
The 3 projects signing the agreements today are the 3 Scatec projects. They will offer energy to be connected to the grid from solar PV and battery storage technologies. #RMI4P #RenewableEnergy pic.twitter.com/y5TLQlrBoa
— Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (@DMRE_ZA) June 2, 2022
Although Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe in February 2019 predicted that such a programme to source new power quickly could have stations online within two years, none have been added to the grid.
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South Africa chose the three additional projects by Oslo-based Scatec in June last year that use solar and battery storage technology. Construction of those stations is expected to take between a year and 18 months, according to the department.
The nation’s so-called sixth bid window for 2,600 megawatts of private renewable energy projects that opened in April is expected to close in August, the department said.
© 2022 Bloomberg
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