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Eskom has opened a request for qualification to form a panel of renewable-energy partners for a five-year framework covering a first-phase portfolio of up to 6 GW. Eskom says its contribution will include at least 2 GW of solar and 1 GW/4 GWh of battery storage; qualified developers may compete for individual projects in later procurement rounds.
South African state utility Eskom has opened a request for qualification to select partners for a five-year program covering up to 6 GW of renewable-energy and storage projects, including at least 1 GW/4 GWh of battery storage that the utility says it will contribute. The process is an initial qualification stage, not a final award of construction contracts: shortlisted developers are expected to compete in later project-specific procurement rounds.
Eskom describes the first-phase program as a portfolio of utility-scale projects spanning solar photovoltaic, battery storage, wind and other renewable technologies. The utility says its own contribution will include at least 2 GW of solar PV and 1 GW/4 GWh of battery energy storage systems. These figures describe minimum contributions by Eskom, while the overall portfolio is stated as up to 6 GW and may include projects from selected partners.
The utility is inviting developers to qualify as co-development and co-investment partners. Those selected will form a panel for development, financing and implementation over five years. Eskom says qualified firms may then be invited to participate in one or more competitive requests for proposals. The qualification process therefore establishes a pool of potential partners; it does not, by itself, confirm which projects will proceed, who will build them or what the final awarded capacity will be.
The proposed portfolio can include projects originated by Eskom on utility-owned land and at existing generation sites, as well as projects owned or originated by strategic partners. The company says these could be developed, acquired or implemented with Eskom or its subsidiary, Eskom Green. Each project is expected to use a dedicated, ring-fenced special-purpose vehicle, with financing primarily structured on a limited-recourse or non-recourse project-finance basis.
Storage and Renewables at Scale
The planned battery component would pair storage with a large renewable-energy pipeline. Battery systems can store electricity for later use, which may help manage the timing differences between renewable generation and demand. The stated 1 GW power capacity and 4 GWh energy capacity describe different aspects of the proposed storage: the first is the rate at which it can deliver power, and the second is the amount of energy it can store. Eskom has not provided a project schedule or operating details in the information available.
The framework also matters because it proposes a way for the state utility to work with private developers on project development and financing. Its use of competitive RFPs and project-specific companies indicates that major decisions are still ahead. The program’s eventual effect on electricity supply, costs and private investment will depend on which projects reach contract, how they are financed, and when they are built and connected.
South Africa is advancing electricity-market reforms, including plans for a wholesale market that could change how Eskom participates in the sector. Against that backdrop, a sizable renewable-and-storage pipeline may be relevant to both the utility’s generation mix and the future role of independent developers. The RFQ alone does not establish that those broader outcomes will follow.
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Eskom’s Project Partnership Framework
Eskom launched Eskom Green in July as part of a broader restructuring effort. The utility’s unbundling process began in 2023, according to the source report. The new framework places Eskom Green among the possible partners for projects developed, acquired or implemented alongside Eskom, while the utility itself may also originate projects at its sites.
The proposal comes as Eskom remains under financial pressure and continues to rely on coal-fired generation and diesel-fired peaking plants. The source report says diesel spending remains in the hundreds of millions of South African rand, although it has fallen substantially from the previous year; it does not specify a precise period or amount for that comparison. South Africa’s cumulative installed solar capacity has exceeded 10 GW, after 1.6 GW was added in 2025, according to the report.
Analysts have warned that rules favoring Eskom’s coal assets could deter private investment and weaken efficiency gains, potentially raising long-term consumer costs. Those are analysts’ concerns, not established effects of this RFQ. The tender’s eventual contribution will depend on its procurement terms, project execution and the regulatory environment.
“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 describing the Phase 1 Programme
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Project Awards Still Pending
The RFQ announcement does not specify the number or location of projects, a construction or commissioning timetable, or how the full 6 GW portfolio will be divided among technologies. It also does not identify developers, provide project-level budgets or state how many firms will qualify. The stated capacity is a planned portfolio, not confirmation that all projects have reached financial close or will be built.
Details of the later RFPs, including bid schedules, eligibility conditions, contract terms and the process for selecting winners, remain unreported in the supplied information. It is also unclear how much capacity will come from Eskom-originated projects compared with projects brought forward by partners, and whether all proposed projects will use the expected financing structure.
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Qualification Before Project Bids
Developers will first seek qualification under the RFQ. Eskom says firms that qualify may be invited to compete in subsequent requests for proposals, which are expected to determine project-specific partners and procurement outcomes. The announcement does not give dates for the qualification decision or the first RFPs.
The next material updates should clarify the firms admitted to the panel, the projects put forward for competition and their proposed capacity and locations. Project awards, financing arrangements and construction milestones will be needed to establish how much of the planned 6 GW portfolio is moving toward delivery.
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Key Questions
How much battery storage does Eskom plan to include?
Eskom says it will contribute at least 1 GW/4 GWh of battery energy storage. The announcement does not give a build schedule or identify specific battery project sites.
Has Eskom awarded contracts to developers?
No awards are confirmed in the supplied announcement. The current step is a request for qualification to form a panel; qualified developers may be invited to bid in later competitive RFPs.
What does the 6 GW figure cover?
It is the stated upper size of the first-phase portfolio of utility-scale renewable-energy and storage projects. Eskom says it will contribute at least 2 GW of solar and 1 GW/4 GWh of battery storage, with partner projects potentially adding to the portfolio.
How will the projects be financed?
Eskom expects each project to use a dedicated, ring-fenced special-purpose vehicle, with financing primarily on a limited-recourse or non-recourse project-finance basis. The announcement does not provide project-level financing terms.
When will the projects be built?
No construction or commissioning dates are provided. Timing will depend on the qualification process, subsequent RFPs, project awards, financing and implementation.
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