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Eskom has opened a request for qualification to build a panel of renewable energy partners for a five-year program targeting up to 6 GW of projects. The utility says its contribution will include at least 2 GW of solar PV and 1 GW/4 GWh of battery storage; qualified developers may later compete in project-specific procurement rounds.
South African utility Eskom has opened a request for qualification for developers to join a five-year partnership framework covering up to 6 GW of renewable energy projects, including at least 1 GW/4 GWh of battery storage that Eskom says it will contribute. The process is intended to create a pool of co-development and co-investment partners, who could later compete for specific projects through separate procurement rounds.
Eskom describes the first phase as a portfolio spanning solar photovoltaic, battery energy storage, wind and other renewable technologies. The utility says its own contribution will include at least 2 GW of solar PV and the stated 1 GW/4 GWh battery portfolio. Additional projects may be owned or originated by selected partners, so the total program is not limited to Eskom-originated developments.
The RFQ is a qualification stage, rather than a contract award for construction. Developers that qualify are expected to be invited to take part in later competitive requests for proposals, which may be issued for one or more projects. The announcement does not identify winning developers, project locations, construction schedules or final financing terms.
The planned portfolio could combine Eskom-originated projects on utility-owned land and existing generation sites with partner projects developed, acquired or implemented in partnership with Eskom or its subsidiary, Eskom Green. Eskom says each project is expected to use a dedicated, ring-fenced special purpose vehicle, with financing primarily arranged on a limited-recourse or non-recourse project-finance basis.
Storage in Eskom’s Renewables Pipeline
The proposal puts a defined battery-storage component alongside a much larger renewable development pipeline. Battery systems can store electricity and supply it later, but the announcement gives no project-level operating details, such as duration for each installation, locations, connection points or intended dispatch arrangements. The stated 1 GW/4 GWh describes power and energy capacity, respectively; it does not by itself establish when the facilities will be built or how they will operate.
For developers and financiers, the immediate development is the opportunity to qualify for a five-year partnership panel, followed by possible project competitions. For electricity users, the program may add new generation and storage to South Africa’s power system if projects proceed. The eventual effect on supply, costs and reliability will depend on procurement outcomes, financing, construction and grid integration, none of which is settled by the RFQ announcement.
Eskom’s New Partnership Framework
The announced program sits within changes to Eskom’s structure and role in South Africa’s electricity sector. Eskom launched Eskom Green in July 2026, according to the source report, as part of a broader restructuring strategy. The utility’s unbundling process began in 2023. The new RFQ offers a way to develop renewable projects with external partners while using Eskom-originated sites as part of the potential pipeline.
The wider power system remains reliant on coal-fired generation and diesel-fired peaking plants. The source report says diesel spending remains in the hundreds of millions of rand, although it has declined substantially from the prior year; it provides no exact period or expenditure figure. South Africa is also pursuing electricity-market reforms, including plans for a wholesale market. Separately, cumulative installed solar capacity in the country has exceeded 10 GW after 1.6 GW was added in 2025, according to the report.
The RFQ is a partnership-selection mechanism, not evidence that the full 6 GW portfolio has been financed or approved for construction. Analysts cited in the source report have warned that regulatory provisions favoring Eskom’s coal assets could deter private investment and weaken efficiency gains. Those concerns are assessments about the broader market, not confirmed outcomes of this procurement.
“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.”
— Eskom, in a statement quoted by Energy Storage
Projects Still Need Individual Bids
The announcement does not state how many developers Eskom expects to qualify, when the RFQ will close, or when the first project-specific RFPs will be issued. It also does not provide a timetable for construction or commissioning, project locations, expected costs, power-purchase arrangements or the amount of private capital sought.
Although Eskom sets out minimum capacity for its own solar and battery contribution, the final size and composition of the overall portfolio remain dependent on partner projects and later procurement. The source report does not specify how the 4 GWh of storage will be divided among sites, what duration or operating rules will apply, or whether every proposed project has completed permitting, grid-connection and financing steps. The program’s announced capacity should not be treated as capacity already operating or under construction.
Qualification Before Project Awards
Developers will first seek qualification through the RFQ process. Eskom says qualified companies may then be invited to compete in one or more RFPs for specific developments. Those later rounds are where more detailed project requirements, bids and potential awards would be expected to emerge.
Key milestones to watch include the RFQ deadline and qualification results, the publication of project-specific tender documents, and any decisions on financing and construction. Until Eskom releases those details, the announced 6 GW remains a program target, with the battery capacity a stated component of the planned portfolio rather than a completed procurement.
Key Questions
What has Eskom announced?
Eskom has opened a request for qualification to select renewable energy developers for a five-year partnership panel supporting a first-phase portfolio of up to 6 GW.
How much battery storage is planned?
Eskom says its contribution will include at least 1 GW of battery power capacity and 4 GWh of energy capacity. The announcement does not give site locations or operating details.
Does the RFQ award construction contracts?
No. It is a qualification step. Developers that qualify may be invited to compete in later requests for proposals for specific projects.
When will the projects be built?
The available announcement does not provide construction or commissioning dates. Project timelines and awards remain dependent on later procurement and development steps.
What other generation is included?
The proposed portfolio may include solar PV, wind and other renewable technologies, as well as battery storage. Eskom says it will contribute at least 2 GW of solar PV, while partner-originated projects may add to the portfolio.
Source: rss
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