Eskom Announces Tender for 19.5 MW Solar Power Capacity in South Africa

State-owned utility Eskom has initiated a tender for the design, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of a 19.5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) facility at the 105.8 MW Sere wind farm in South Africa’s Western Cape province.

The successful bidder will also be responsible for the operations and maintenance of the solar plant for the first two years of its operational life.

According to the tender specifications, the solar plant will feature ground-mounted panels, with a minimum operational lifespan of 25 years, situated on less than 20 hectares of land. The facility will connect to the 132 kV Skaapvlei substation via a dedicated 132/22 kV transformer.

This 19.5 MW project is designed as the initial phase of a broader expansion plan at the Sere wind farm site, with future phases potentially increasing the total capacity to 600 MW, subject to feasibility assessments.

The tender submission deadline is September 12, with Eskom aiming to award the contract in November. Construction is anticipated to commence in the following year.

Additionally, Eskom has recently opened a separate tender for a 30 MW solar PV project in eastern South Africa, with applications accepted until October 29.