The financial closure of the Oya Energy Hybrid Project marks a significant achievement, poised to supply clean energy to around 180,000 households in South Africa. Collaboratively undertaken by ENGIE, G7 Renewable Energies, Meadows Energy, and Perpetua Investments Holdings, this endeavor stands among the 11 favored bidders selected through South Africa’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme.
Securing a 20-year power purchase agreement with Eskom and an implementation agreement with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in 2023, Oya Energy sets the stage to provide essential dispatchable energy to South Africa’s grid.
Distinguished for its innovative approach, the Oya Energy Hybrid Project integrates 155 MW of solar PV power, 86 MW of wind power, and 92 MW/242 MWh of battery energy storage within a single location spanning the Western and Northern Cape Provinces. The project’s pioneering design incorporates co-located wind turbines, solar PV arrays, lithium-ion batteries, and a unique hybrid controller, enabling comprehensive control over all three technologies to supply power to the grid as needed.
Acknowledged as Africa’s largest hybrid energy initiative, the Oya Energy Hybrid Project is globally acclaimed for its technology mix, size, and cost efficiency. Leveraging its strategic location and advanced battery storage capabilities, it emerges as a cost-effective solution for sustainable energy generation.
Commenting on the project, Mohamed Hoosen, ENGIE Managing Director, Renewables, AMEA, and South Africa Country Manager, expressed ENGIE’s commitment to South Africa’s long-term low-carbon energy security. Dr. Kilian Hagemann, CEO of G7, highlighted the project’s complexity and efficiency, underscoring G7’s expertise in developing such innovative renewable energy projects.
Romaya Dorasamy, Managing Director at Meadows Energy, emphasized the significance of the project’s financial closure, heralding it as a substantial step towards a sustainable energy future. Logan Govender, director at Perpetua Holdings, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of all partners involved.
Dr. Hagemann outlined the project’s significance in paving the way for a carbon-neutral, 100% renewable future power grid, emphasizing the pivotal role of renewables in providing baseload power without relying on fossil fuels.
In addition to supplying clean energy to households, the project is poised to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, furthering South Africa’s transition to renewable energy generation. Located within the Komsberg Renewable Energy Development Zone (REDZ), the project underscores a pivotal shift towards sustainable energy practices.
