Eskom Advances Renewable Energy Efforts with New Solar Plants in South Africa

In a critical step forward for South Africa’s energy sector, state-owned power utility Eskom has been given the go-ahead to develop two substantial solar photovoltaic (PV) generation facilities. This decision comes at a time when South Africa faces persistent electricity shortages that have hampered economic growth and put pressure on the national power grid.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) issued the licences for the plants, which are set to be located in the Western Cape and Free State provinces, respectively. The regulator gave its consent on 29 October 2024, thereby allowing Eskom to operate its Sere Solar PV Power Plant and the Lethabo Solar PV Power Plant, located adjacent to the current Sere wind farm and the Lethabo coal power station.

The Sere Solar PV facility will be an addition to the currently operational 105.8 MW wind energy installation near Vredendal, Western Cape. It is set to expand in phases with the potential to reach a capacity of 600MW. The first phase, Phase 1a, will have a capacity of less than 20MW and is not required to undergo a full Environmental Impact Assessment due to its limited size and environmental impact.

On the other hand, the planned 75MW solar PV facility at Lethabo in the Free State Province is part of a broader initiative by Eskom to diversify its energy mix. The tender process for the Lethabo project began in April 2024, with the criteria emphasizing significant experience in the implementation of ground-mounted, grid-connected solar PV projects.

These developments are a portion of Eskom's renewables push, a commitment to investing R106 billion towards renewable energy projects by 2030. The drive is adapted to South Africa's Integrated Resource Plan that aims to reduce reliance on coal and embrace clean energy sources. The first phase of this plan has commenced, albeit behind schedule, and it includes other solar projects at various existing power stations across the country.

Furthermore, the second phase, spanning 2023 to 2024, involves significant expansion, including the construction of a 750 MW solar power plant in the Northern Cape and further development of the Sere Solar Plant to 600MW.

Eskom’s move towards solar energy is a substantial bid to tackle the pressing power shortage issues and represents an essential shift towards renewable energy to ensure a more reliable and environmentally friendly power supply in South Africa.