In the News:
- Eskom issues tender for a 17 MW solar plant at Duvha Power Station.
- The project includes construction, commissioning, and two years of operation.
- The utility plans further renewable initiatives under the IRP 2025.
South African power utility Eskom has issued a tender for the construction and operation of a 17-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at Duvha Power Station in Mpumalanga.
The project includes design, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, performance testing, training, and two years of operation and maintenance.
The plant will occupy 35.2 hectares within the Duvha Power Station site, near Witbank in the Emalahleni local municipality.
It is designed to deliver a minimum capacity of 17 MWac and could reach a maximum evacuation capacity of 30 MWac, depending on grid conditions.
Eskom confirmed that only electronic submissions will be accepted, and the project will comply with South Africa’s procurement regulations and Eskom’s internal governance standards.
How the renewable energy plan will work
The tender for the 17 MW solar PV plant aligns with Eskom’s corporate and long-term planning objectives, as detailed in its Integrated Long-Term Plan and Corporate Plan.
Both plans emphasize increasing generation capacity, reducing reliance on coal, and supporting a low-carbon energy future.
“The addition of solar PV at Duvha Power Station is part of our strategy to diversify Eskom’s generation mix and improve system reliability.
“The project contributes to our long-term objectives of adding capacity, alleviating grid constraints, and pursuing cleaner energy sources,” the utility said.
The Duvha solar PV plant will be integrated into Eskom’s Renewable Energy Offtake Programme (REOP).
Under this programme, electricity generated from renewable sources can be sold to industrial customers through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).
What you should know
South Africa’s electricity system is largely dependent on coal, which provides most of the the country’s generation capacity.
Many coal-fired power plants are aging, and maintenance backlogs and technical failures have contributed to periodic load shedding.
The government’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025 outlines the country’s energy transition, projecting more than 11,000 MW of solar PV by 2030 and over 25,000 MW by 2039, alongside wind, gas, and other generation sources.
South African Photovoltaic Industry Association CEO, Dr Rethabile Melamu has noted that solar PV deployment in South Africa is growing rapidly and contributing to the country’s overall energy supply through both utility-scale and private generation.
The Duvha solar PV project has also undergone an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to evaluate potential socio-economic and environmental effects.
Its maximum output of 30 MWac will depend on technical feasibility and grid connection capacity during commissioning.
More on the Duvha PV plant
The Duvha solar PV plant will have a minimum capacity of 17 MW, with a maximum evacuation capacity of 30 MWac.
Eskom has confirmed plans to pursue additional renewable initiatives, including a potential independent renewables unit to accelerate the development of clean energy projects.
Eskom’s planning documents state that projects at existing power stations will add incremental capacity and align with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025, which sets targets for solar and other low-carbon generation through 2039.
The integration of these projects is part of ongoing efforts to expand renewable capacity, align with national energy policy, and support Eskom’s existing generation.
