- The Oya Energy Hybrid Project combines 155MW of solar PV, 86MW wind and 92MW/242MWh battery energy storage within a single location.
- Engie, G7 Renewable Energies, Meadows Energy and Perpetua Investment Holdings will jointly own and operate the project.
The Oya Energy project, expected to power 180,000 South African homes with clean energy upon completion, has reached a financial close this week. Engie (35%), G7 Renewable Energies (20%), Meadows Energy (22.5%) and Perpetua Investment Holdings (22.5%) will jointly own and operate the Oya Energy Hybrid Project. This is among the 11 preferred bidders under South Africa’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme. According to a statement, the project is a pioneering example of sustainable energy innovation. It combines 155MW of solar PV power, 86MW of wind power and 92MW/242MWh battery energy storage within a single location.
This greenfield development spans the Western and Northern Cape provinces, between Ceres and Sutherland. According to the companies, the project will accelerate the country’s transition to renewable power generation and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 573 105 tonnes annually − the equivalent of 72 680 cars on the road. The project falls within the Komsberg Renewable Energy Development Zone. In 2023, Oya Energy signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Eskom and an implementation agreement with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. Once operational, the Oya Energy Hybrid Project will provide essential dispatchable energy to the South African grid.
The announcement comes as South Africa continues to face crippling energy shortages, with embattled power utility Eskom, which supplies the bulk of the country’s electricity, battling to meet demand. Despite the power shortages, South Africa has gradually introduced renewable energy sources to plug the electricity shortfall. Eskom recently implemented the much-dreaded stage six load-shedding after facing setbacks due to 10 generating units taken out of service. The state-owned company has since reduced the load-shedding severity to stage three. The power utility produces most of its energy from coal-fired plants. The biggest reasons for the problems at Eskom include the lack of maintenance of these plants and corruption stemming from state capture.