South Africa’s Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on 7 October issued a determination that prioritises 4,600 megawatts (MW) of battery storage and 5,000 MW of gas-fired power for new public bidding rounds. State utility Eskom may bid for the first time, and the determination includes no new wind or solar plants. The grid operator wants more flexible capacity, while rising curtailment forces the transmission company to compensate earlier renewable producers; three previous battery rounds procured only 1,744 MW. The shift favours storage developers, gas suppliers and Eskom over solar and wind investors, and the gas plan raises the need for import terminals. A later determination is due to cover renewables and pumped storage.
Sources
- Engineering News: https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/new-determination-opens-way-for-public-procurement-of-large-scale-battery-storage-and-gas-to-power-2026-10-07
- CNBC Africa: https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2026/south-africa-to-prioritise-battery-storage-and-gas-to-power-projects-says-energy-minister
- Business Day: https://www.businessday.co.za/economy/2026-10-08-south-africa-to-fast-track-9600mw-battery-energy-storage-and-gas-power/