December 2024
The Ngwedi Solar Cluster, located near Rustenburg in the North West Province, has been awarded preferred bidder status under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
Announced by Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the cluster forms part of the successful bidders for two key public procurement programmes of the IPP Office: Bid Window 7 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and Bid Window 2 of the Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP).
The cluster comprises two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects — Onderstepoort Solar 1 (RF) Proprietary Limited and Onderstepoort Solar 2 (RF) Proprietary Limited — and represents a significant addition to the country’s growing pipeline of utility-scale renewable energy.
With a combined installed capacity of 410MW, the 750 000 solar panels will generate over 1 000 GWh annually of clean, reliable electricity to the national grid once operational. Onderstepoort Solar 1 will contribute 220MW, while Onderstepoort Solar 2 will add a further 190MW.
The cluster will connect to the Ngwedi Main Transmission Station, span around 730 hectares, and is expected to avoid approximately 1.1 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year once operational. Owned by Infinity Power Holding South Africa (Pty) Ltd (IPHSA) and Pele Green Energy (Pty) Ltd, the projects form part of the latest round of procurement, which continues to see strong participation from private sector developers.