A hybrid renewable energy project combining 216 MW of solar photovoltaic capacity with a 500 MWh battery energy storage system has begun operating near De Aar in the Northern Cape.
The Hydra project is contracted to supply 75 MW of dispatchable electricity to the national grid continuously between 05h00 and 21h30. Electricity is supplied to Eskom under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
The project includes three co-located solar and storage sites and connects to the national transmission network through the Hydra substation, according to TotalEnergies.
The facility is expected to generate more than 400 GWh annually.
Hydra was developed under South Africa’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, which procured dispatchable generation to address electricity supply constraints. The project reached financial close in December 2023.
“It enables us to supply dispatchable renewable power to the South African grid,” said TotalEnergies Southern Africa Managing Director Magali Pailhé.
The project is owned by a consortium comprising TotalEnergies and Hydra Storage Holding, each with a 35% interest, and Reatile Renewables with 30%.
