OREANDA-NEWS. Enel Green Power (EGP) has been awarded with the right to sign energy supply contracts with the South Africa utility Eskom for 314 MWp of solar projects and 199 MW of wind projects (for a total of 513 MW) in the third round of the REIPPPP (Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme) renewable energy tender sponsored by the South African government. Out of the amount awarded in the third round as of today, these projects represent more than 65% and 25% for solar PV and wind respectively.

In line with the rules of the REIPPPP, EGP has participated to the tender retaining a controlling 60% stake in the bidding vehicles in partnership with relevant local players.

The four PV solar projects (Aurora, Tom Burke, Paleisheweul and Pulida) will be located across the country in the Northern Cape, Western Cape, Free State and Limpopo regions, in areas boasting the highest concentration of solar radiation in the country. The two wind projects (Gibson Bay and Cookhouse) will be built in the Eastern Cape region in areas with an extremely high wind resource.

Once completed, these six new projects, requiring a total investment of approximately 630 million euros, will be able to generate more than 1.300 GWh per year, a sustainable contribution to the rising energy demand of the country in a clean and environmental friendly way.

The projects will be completed and enter operation in 2016. This result meets the EGP strategic growth guidelines in new and emerging markets as set in the business plan 2013-2017

The solar PV projects have been engineered with the thin film module produced by the joint venture 3Sun, equally owned by Enel Green Power, STMicroelectronics and Sharp.

These new projects are added to the one a subsidiary of ESSE, the equally-owned joint venture of Enel Green Power & Sharp currently has under construction in the country at Upington.