1.27 GW of new, clean power supplied to S Africa

Global wind and solar company Mainstream Renewable Power (RP) announced in October that 12 of its projects have won preferred bidder status in round five of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

The wind and solar projects, which have a total capacity of 1.27 GW, represent half of the total allocation in the round, which was the most competitive to date, being almost four times oversubscribed.

The win makes Mainstream RP the most successful company in the history of the South African renewable energy procurement programme, with over 2.1 GW awarded to date. This includes 850 MW of wind and solar generation assets that Mainstream RP has already delivered into commercial operation across rounds one, three and four of the REIPPPP.

Mainstream RP has achieveda number offirsts in the REIPPPP, including constructing South Africa’s first self-build substation, as well as bringing the first projects to financial close and to complete construction in rounds one, three and four.

The Mainstream RP-led consortium, named ‘Ikamva’, which means “the future” in Xhosa, will deliver six onshore wind projects and six solar photovoltaic projects, including the first REIPPPP project in KwaZulu-Natal.

The consortium brings together a range of expertise, led by Mainstream RP’s 100% African team of over 100 professionals, and comprises Globeleq, Africa Rainbow Energy & Power, H1 Holdings and local community trusts.

As a result of this award, Mainstream RP will double the size of its South African team and will be actively recruiting another 100 South Africans to support the engineering and construction of the 12 projects. This will make Mainstream RP the largest pure-play renewables employer in Africa.

Mainstream RP GM Hein Reyneke says the latest REIPPPP awards reflected Mainstream RP’s delivery record in South Africa and Chile.

The projects will produce about 4 500 GWh of green electricity each year, helping to avoid nearly five-million tonnes a year of carbon dioxide, once fully operational. They will provide South Africa with critical, low-cost, indigenous power and help deliver a just transition towards its clean energy and climate goals.

The win underpins Mainstream RP’s strategy of building true scale across its global platforms, with the company’s global portfolio now at 16.2 GW. It is the latest demonstration of Mainstream RP’s accelerated growth trajectory following the 75% acquisition by green investment company Aker Horizons earlier in 2021, as well as the announcement of the new 1 GW Nazca Renovables platform, in Chile, in July.