South Africa’s state-owned power utility Eskom has launched a request for qualification (RFQ) process to select renewable energy developers for the first phase of a program aimed at deploying up to 6 GW of utility-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects.

“The Eskom Phase 1 Programme is an initial portfolio of up to 6 GW of utility-scale renewable energy projects, spanning solar photovoltaic (PV), battery energy storage systems (BESS), wind and other renewable technologies,” the company said in a statement. “Eskom will contribute projects comprising at least 2GW of solar PV and 1GW / 4GWh of BESS, which may be complemented by projects owned or originated by the selected strategic partners. The strategic partners will form a panel of pre-qualified co-development and co-investment partners for development, financing and implementation for a period of five years.”

Qualified developers will be invited to participate in subsequent competitive procurement rounds through one or more requests for proposals (RFPs).

The planned portfolio includes Eskom-originated projects on utility-owned land and at existing generation sites, alongside projects owned or originated by strategic partners that could be developed, acquired or implemented in partnership with Eskom or its Eskom Green subsidiary.

Each project is expected to be structured through a dedicated, ring-fenced special purpose vehicle (SPV), with financing primarily arranged on a limited-recourse or non-recourse project finance basis.

Eskom launched Eskom Green in July as part of its broader restructuring strategy, which includes the unbundling process initiated in 2023.

Despite these developments, Eskom remains under financial pressure.

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