Country for PR: United Kingdom
Contributor: PR Newswire Europe
Friday, October 29 2021 - 19:06
AsiaNet
Mainstream Renewable Power projects to deliver 1.27 GW of new wind and solar for South Africa
DUBLIN and CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Oct. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire--AsiaNet/-

     - Mainstream Renewable Power-led consortium has been awarded 50% of the 
total allocation in the latest round of South Africa's Renewable Energy 
Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) 
      - The win makes Mainstream Renewable Power the leading renewable energy 
company in South Africa, with over 2.1 GW awarded under the REIPPPP to date 
      - The twelve projects, across onshore wind and solar, will generate 
enough clean energy to power a third of the annual electricity demand of the 
City of Cape Town

    Global wind and solar company, Mainstream Renewable Power ("Mainstream"), 
today announces that twelve of its projects have won preferred bidder status in 
Round 5 of South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer 
Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The wind and solar projects, which have a 
total capacity of 1.27 GW, represent half of the total allocation in the Round, 
which was the most competitive to date, being almost 4 times oversubscribed. 

    The win makes Mainstream the most successful company in the history of the 
South African renewable energy procurement programme, with over 2.1 GW awarded 
to date. This includes 850 MW of wind and solar generation assets that 
Mainstream has already delivered into commercial operation across Rounds 1, 3 
and 4 of the REIPPPP. Mainstream has achieved a number of firsts in the REIPPP 
including constructing South Africa's first self-build substation as well as 
bringing the first projects to financial close and to complete construction in 
Rounds 1, 3 and 4.   

    The Mainstream-led consortium, named "Ikamva" which means "the future" in 
Xhosa, will deliver six onshore wind projects and six solar PV projects, 
including the first REIPPPP project in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province. 
The consortium brings together a range of expertise, led by Mainstream's 100% 
African team of over a hundred professionals, and comprises Globeleq, Africa 
Rainbow Energy & Power, H1 Holdings and local community trusts. 

    As a result of this award Mainstream will double the size of its South 
African team and will be actively recruiting another 100 South Africans to 
support the engineering and construction of the 12 projects. This will make 
Mainstream the largest pure-play renewables employer in Africa. 

    The projects will produce approximately 4,500 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of green 
electricity each year, helping to avoid nearly 5 million tonnes of CO2 per 
annum, once fully operational. They will provide South Africa with critical, 
low-cost, indigenous power and help deliver a just transition towards its clean 
energy and climate goals. 

    The win underpins Mainstream's strategy of building true scale across its 
global platforms, with the company's global portfolio now at 16.2 GW. It is the 
latest demonstration of Mainstream's accelerated growth trajectory following 
the 75% acquisition by Aker Horizons earlier in 2021, as well as the 
announcement of the new 1 GW Nazca Renovables platform in Chile in July. 

    Hein Reyneke, Mainstream's General Manager for Africa said:  
    "We are delighted to be chosen to contribute further to the decarbonisation 
of South Africa. It is a demonstration of faith in Mainstream's track record of 
efficient and reliable delivery not only here in South Africa but also 
internationally, where we are currently building ten wind and solar PV projects 
simultaneously, totalling 1.35 GW in Chile. Our latest win will deliver 
enormous social, economic and environmental benefits for South Africa." 

    Contact:  
    Emmet Curley, Head of Communications & Positioning  
    Phone: +353 86 2411 690  
    Email: emmet.curley@mainstreamrp.com  

Note to editors: 

Project information: 

Project Name     Technology   MW    Province         Municipality     District 

Dwarsrug          Wind        124   Northern Cape    Hantam           Namakwa 
Beaufort West     Wind        140   Western Cape     Prince Alfred    Central 
Karoo
Trakas            Wind        140   Western Cape     Prince Alfred    Central 
Karoo
Waaihoek 	  Wind 	      140   KKwazulu-Natal   Madlangeni       Amajuba 
Sutherland 	  Wind 	      140   Northern Cape    Karoo Hoogland   Namakwa and  
                                                     and Laingsburg   Central 
Karoo
Rietrug 	  Wind 	      140   Northern Cape    Karoo Hoogland   Namakwa 
Kentani 	  Solar PV    75    Free State       Tokologo         Lejweleputswa 
Leliehoek 	  Solar PV    75    Free State       Tokologo         Lejweleputswa 
Klipfontein 	  Solar PV    75    Free State       Tokologo         
Lejweleputswa 
Klipfontein 2 	  Solar PV    75    Free State       Tokologo         
Lejweleputswa 
Braklaagte 	  Solar PV    75    Free State       Tokologo         Lejweleputswa 
Sonoblomo 	  Solar PV    75    Free State       Tokologo         Lejweleputswa 
Total 	 	              1,274 
 

    Mainstream owns 100% of the projects awarded. At financial close, ownership 
will transfer to the equity consortium: Mainstream (25%), Globeleq (26%), 
Africa Rainbow Energy & Power (23.25%), H1 Holdings (23.25%) and Community 
Trusts (2.5%).

    About Mainstream Renewable Power 

    Mainstream Renewable Power is a leading pure-play renewable energy company 
with a global footprint. The company is focused on expanding its high-quality 
pipeline of more than 16.2 Gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar assets across Latin 
America, Africa, Asia Pacific as well as the global offshore wind sector. In 
May 2021, it closed an agreement for Aker Horizons to take a 75% equity stake 
in the company, enabling Mainstream to accelerate its global expansion plan.  

    Mainstream has delivered more than 6.5 GW of wind and solar assets to 
financial close-ready, and currently has over 1.4 GW (net) in construction 
across Latin America and Africa. In Chile, Mainstream's wholly-owned 1.35 GW 
"Andes Renovables Platform" of fully contracted wind and solar assets are on 
track to complete construction from later this year. In Africa, the company has 
delivered 850 MW of wind and solar assets into commercial operation in South 
Africa, and further, through its Lekela Power joint venture has 410 MW of wind 
assets in construction in Senegal and Egypt.  

    Mainstream is one of the most successful pure-play developers of offshore 
wind at scale globally. It has successfully consented Hornsea One (1.2 GW), the 
largest operational offshore wind plant in the world today; and developed the 
Hornsea 2 project (1.4 GW) before selling these projects and the entire Zone in 
2015. Overall, it has developed and consented 20% of the UK's offshore wind 
capacity either in operation or under construction. Mainstream fully consented 
the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind project in Scotland, 450 MW, currently under 
construction. The company's Soc Trang 1.4 GW offshore wind development in 
Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's largest renewable energy developments.  

    Mainstream has raised more than EUR3.0bn in project finance to date and 
employs more than 420 staff across five continents. 

    www.mainstreamrp.com  

    Logo: 
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/686512/Mainstream_Renewable_Power_Logo.jpg 


    Source: Mainstream Renewable Power 
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