ENGIE brings Graspan and Grootspruit solar PV plants into commercial operation

ENGIE South Africa has achieved significant milestones in its renewable energy delivery with the commercial operation of two utility-scale solar photovoltaic plants. The 75 MW Grootspruit Solar PV plant in the Free State and the 75 MW Graspan Solar PV plant in the Northern Cape both reached commercial operation this month, marking successful delivery under Bid Window Five of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

These plants add 150 MW of solar capacity to the national grid and contribute to the broader expansion of solar generation nationwide. “These two plants reinforce our commitment to the addition of new megawatts in collaboration with local partners, stakeholders, and community members,” said Mo Hoosen, ENGIE South Africa CEO & MD for Renewables and Batterie AMEA. “Bringing Grootspruit and Graspan into commercial operation strengthens South Africa’s energy supply today, while building the foundation for future market evolution.”

Together, the two solar plants will reduce approximately 100 000 tons of CO₂greenhouse emissions each year, supporting South Africa’s energy transition and carbon neutrality goals and contribute towards meeting electricity needs of around 80 000 South African households.

These operational milestones follow additional momentum in ENGIE South Africa’s pipeline. The company has been named the preferred bidder for the Corona Solar PV project under Bid Window Seven of the REIPPPP. ENGIE is also pre-qualified as one of seven bidders for South Africa’s first Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) procurement programme, signalling its intent to contribute to both generation and grid evolution.

“Generation and transmission must develop together if South Africa is to unlock new capacity at the pace required. Our participation in Bid Window Seven and the ITP programme positions ENGIE to contribute across the full energy value chain, from new renewable generation to the transmission infrastructure that enables it.”

“Grootspruit and Graspan moving into commercial operation is not the end of a journey. It is the start of the next chapter. We remain a committed partner for investing, building, and operating energy infrastructure that supports national growth, strengthens communities, and delivers clean power for decades to come,” concluded Hoosen.

About ENGIE

ENGIE is a major player in the energy transition, whose purpose is to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy. With 98,000 employees in 30 countries, the Group covers the entire energy value chain, from production to infrastructures and sales. ENGIE combines complementary activities: renewable electricity and green gas production, flexibility assets (notably batteries), gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks, local energy infrastructures (heating and cooling networks) and the supply of energy to individuals, local authorities and businesses. Every year, ENGIE invests more than €10 billion to drive forward the energy transition and achieve its net-zero carbon goal by 2045.