With South Africa receiving 79 bids with 51 meeting the qualification criteria, only 19 bidders were selected as “preferred bidders for Window 2,” according to the Energy Minister Dipuo Peters.
Nine bidders were selected for the solar PV taking up 417.1 MW, seven companies were chosen for wind energy, two for small hydropower, and one for CSP. The second round of bidding resulted in 1.04 GW being allocated with Solar Capital De Aar 3 and Sishen Solar Facility among the solar PV bidders; West Coast 1 and Grassridge are involved with the wind bids; Stortemelk Hydro (Pty) Ltd. and Neusberg Hydro Electric Project A selected for small hydropower; and CSP Bokpoort hit for the CSP bid.
It is noteworthy that the second round of PV bidding showed an increase in local content from the first round at 28.5% to 47.5%. In addition, Acciona SA and Aveng Ltd. won two of the projects which will have them build, own, and operate a 135-MW wind park and a 74-MW solar plant.
Alternative Energy