Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme

Solar potential of South Africa
4 MW Merino run-of-the-river power plant on the As River, outputting 25GWh/annum
Darling Wind Farm
Khi Solar One, a solar power tower in Upington in the Northern Cape. It has a planned annual net output of 180 GWh.

The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP or REI4P) is an initiative by the South African government aimed at increasing electricity capacity through private sector investment in solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar, onshore wind power, small hydro, landfill gas, biomass, and biogas.

The program supports the commitments made by South Africa under the Paris Agreement of 2016.

As of August 2026, a total of 127 private sector projects have been allocated to bidders, across seven bid windows. Out of a total available procurement figure of 21,478MW, the projects are set to fulfil 9,910.37MW of new renewable power generation.

History

At the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17) in Durban, the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) was introduced to implement the objectives of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2010-2030); of which are to diversify the country's energy mix away from fossil-fired power generation like coal and crude oil, add 30 GW to the grid before 2030, take advantage of opportunities relating to a Green Economy, and in creating new green industries with at least 300 000 jobs.

Following the Stage 6 load shedding crisis in June 2022, President Ramaphosa announced that Bid Window 6 will double the amount procured from 2,600 MW to 5,200 MW, with 3,200MW allocated for wind and 1000 MW for Solar PV. The National Planning Commission also proposed the 100 MW ceiling of private generation be removed. It said solar and wind power projects can bring online 10 000 MW of capacity within 2–3 years.

In 2023, in an affidavit by outgoing Eskom CEO, André De Ruyter said former Eskom CEOs Brian Molefe and Matshela Koko refused to conclude agreements with Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers, thus exacerbating load shedding. It was estimated that up to 96% of load shedding would have been avoided had they not halted the REIPPPP.

According to analysts, the REIPPPP was two to three years behind schedule. This was due to the program being halted between 2015 and 2019, the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe not following the outline of the IRP, and the grid network not adequately developed in areas where renewable energy is best harnessed (the Cape Provinces).

Also in 2023, the Development Bank of Southern Africa tendered for the program to be reviewed in terms of its cost and efficacy.

Major IPPs

As of 2026, there are numerous major players in the independent renewable power production sector, many of whom are bidding for REIPPPP projects. Most of these companies are headquartered in Cape Town, a regional hub for renewable energy. The companies include:

Bid window allocations

The REIPPPP operates through bid windows, where the national government allocates a certain amount of energy to procure within that window, and interested companies submit competitive tenders for self-funded projects. After review, some are then accepted as preferred bidders.

As of mid-2026, a total of seven bid windows have been opened. These are shown in the table below.

Bid Window Year Available for procurement (MW) Allocated (MW) Number of Preferred Bidders chosen Notes
One 2011 3,725MW 1,425.34MW 30 2 allocated for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) (150MW); 8 for Wind (648.53MW); 20 Solar PV (626.81MW). 2,209MW was available for the next windows.
Two 2012 1,275MW 1,040.96 19 1 project with CSP (50MW); 7 Onshore wind (559.44MW); 9 Solar PV (417.12MW), 2 Small Hydro (14.40MW).
Three 2013 1,473MW 1,456.56MW 19 The allocated projects were: 6 Solar PV (435MW); 9 Onshore wind (787MW); 2 CSP (200MW); 1 Landfill Gas (18MW); 1 Biomass project (16MW).
Three (extended) 2014 200MW 200MW 2 2 CSP projects were allocated, each with a 100MW capacity. The first, Kathu Solar Park, began construction in 2016. The other is Redstone Solar Thermal Power.
Four 2018 2,205MW 2,204.51MW 26 Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson, announced that Bid Window 4 will be extended by a further 1,800 MW to reconsider unsuccessful project bids from windows 1 to 4. 1 Biomass, 12 Onshore wind, 12 Solar PV and 1 Hydro project was allocated.
Five 2021 2,600MW 2,583MW 25 12 Onshore wind (1,600MW) and 13 Solar PV (1,000MW) projects were allocated on 28 October 2021. The weighted average price of the Preferred Bidder projects, i.e. both Wind and Solar PV, was R473 (US$32) per MWh. Bid Window 5 will inject a total private sector investment of R50 billion (US$3.38 billion) into the economy, with 13,900 job opportunities.
Six 2022 5,200MW 1,000MW 6 Initially, capacity was increased from 2,600MW to 4,200MW. This was then increased to 5,200MW. At the end of the bid window, 5 Solar PV (1,000MW) projects were announced and 860 MW allocated, for a total investment of R12.1 billion. Onshore wind applications, totalling 4,116 MW were received, but none could be allocated since Eskom could not connect them to the grid. An additional Solar PV project was announced on 23 March 2023.
Seven 2024 5,000MW 1,760MW 8 3,200MW was allocated for wind, and 1,800MW for Solar PV.
Eight TBD 5,616MW TBD TBD Upcoming. This will be the final bid window under the national government's IRP 2019. Bid window 8 was intended to be opened in 2024, but experienced delays. These were due to bid window 7 taking longer than expected, and the government wanting to develop a new procurement model for window 8, to address grid capacity constraints, and incorporate lessons from previous procurement rounds.
Total — 21,478MW 9,910.37MW 127 —

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Bid Window 3 Preferred Bidders' announcement" (PDF). 4 November 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Radebe, Jeff. "Renewable energy independent power producer (REIPP) agreements will benefit South Africa in the transition to an environmentally sustainable economic future" (PDF).
  4. 1 2 Evans, Julia (2 May 2023). "POWER CRISIS: Mega bid window to be released to market in June — but SA's big challenge is grid capacity, says electricity minister". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  5. 1 2 Peters, Dipuo (7 December 2011). "IPP Bids Announcement" (PDF).
  6. ↑ Diemen, Ethan van (25 July 2022). "POWER CRISIS: Here it is: Ramaphosa's 'energy action plan' to end SA's rolling blackouts". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  7. ↑ "Government Communications gives update on procurement process for renewable energy IPP procurement programme bid window 6 | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  8. 1 2 "NPC PROPOSES URGENT MEASURES TO END LOADSHEDDING CRISIS 6 July" (PDF).
  9. ↑ UDM vs Eskom - 2023/005779. High Court of South Africa.
  10. ↑ Ngcuka, Julia Evans and Onke (28 January 2023). "POWER CRISIS: How the ANC's years-long delays on renewables plunged SA into darkness and scuppered plan to end blackouts". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "Procurement of a transaction advisor to Review of the Renewable Energy IPP Procurement (REIPPPP) and Evaluation model for improvement in cost effectiveness and efficiency. Exploring and recommending an alternative auction model for the REIPPP Procurement Programme" (PDF). pv magazine International. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  12. ↑ Thonig, Rüdiger (2019). "An updated review of South African CSP projects under the renewable energy independent power producer procurement programme (REIPPPP)". AIP Conference Proceedings. SOLARPACES 2018: International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems. 2126 (1): 040001. Bibcode:2019AIPC.2126d0001L. doi:10.1063/1.5117581.
  13. 1 2 "IPP Projects - Project Database". www.ipp-projects.co.za. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 "REIPPPP - Bid Window 1-4 Preferred Bidder List" (PDF).
  15. 1 2 Larmuth, James; Cuellar, Alberto (2019). "An updated review of South African CSP projects under the renewable energy independent power producer procurement programme (REIPPPP)". SOLARPACES 2018: International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems. Vol. 2126. Casablanca, Morocco. p. 040001. Bibcode:2019AIPC.2126d0001L. doi:10.1063/1.5117581. S2CID 201453338.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  16. ↑ Eberhard, Anton (2016). "Renewable energy auctions in South Africa outshine feed-in tariffs". Energy Science & Engineering. 4 (3): 190–193. Bibcode:2016EneSE...4..190E. doi:10.1002/ese3.118.
  17. ↑ "Renewable IPPPP - Bid Window 4 Preferred Bidders" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 November 2021.
  18. ↑ Mantashe, Gwede (2021). RENEWABLE ENERGY IPP PROCUREMENT PROGRAMME (REIPPPP) BID WINDOW 5 (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2022.
  19. ↑ "KEY MESSAGES FROM THE RENEWABLE ENERGY INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER PROCUREMENT PROGRAMME BID WINDOW 5 (REIPPPP BID WINDOW 5) BIDDERS' CONFERENCE, HELD ON 26 MAY 2021". DMRE. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "REIPPPP BID WINDOW 5 - LIST OF PREFERRED BIDDERS" (PDF).
  21. 1 2 "Media Statement: BW6 Bidder Announcement" (PDF). Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.
  22. 1 2 "Government Communications gives update on procurement process for renewable energy IPP procurement programme bid window 6".
  23. 1 2 "RENEWABLE ENERGY IPPP PROGRAMME (REIPPPP) BID WINDOW 6: APPOINTMENT OF ADDITIONAL PREFERRED BIDDER". DMRE. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  24. 1 2 "Overview of the request for qualification and proposals for new generation capacity under seventh bid submission phase of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme" (PDF).
  25. ↑ "Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on 8 Preferred Bidders under Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and 8 Preferred Bidders under Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement P". South African Government. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  26. 1 2 Irma Venter (5 March 2024). "Bid Window 8 the last under IRP 2019, nuclear ambitions not a pipe dream – Mantashe". Engineering News. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  27. ↑ DBSA (2025). "Appointment Of Economic Development Transaction Advisors for REIPPPP Bid Windows 7.5 And 8" (PDF). Government of South Africa. Retrieved 15 August 2026.