Eskom seeks strategic partners for up to 6 GW of renewables and storage under Eskom Green
Victoria Shinder2 min readSouth Africa's state utility Eskom has launched a request for qualification (RFQ) to select strategic partners for the Phase 1 Programme of Eskom Green, its utility-scale renewable energy business. The programme is an initial portfolio of up to 6 GW of solar PV, battery storage, wind and other renewable projects. Eskom announced the process on 9 October 2026.
What Eskom brings. Eskom will contribute projects of at least 2 GW of solar PV and 1 GW / 4 GWh of battery storage. Each of these has an allocated site — on Eskom-owned land or at existing generation sites — with land, environmental authorisations and grid connection access in progress. Eskom expects to house each project in a ring-fenced special purpose vehicle financed mainly on a limited- or non-recourse project-finance basis. Partners can add projects they own or originate.
How selection works. The RFQ is the first stage. It will create a panel of pre-qualified partners for five years, who may then be invited to bid in one or more later requests for proposals for specific projects. Respondents have to show the technical capability, development record and financial capacity to co-develop, finance, build, operate and maintain a portfolio of utility-scale projects with Eskom. Project structures and funding arrangements are to be set project by project.
The corporate vehicle. At the date of the RFQ, Eskom Green was still being incorporated with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission; once incorporated, Eskom Holdings will own all of its shares. Until then Eskom Holdings runs the procurement on its behalf.
The stated purpose. Eskom presents the programme as part of its strategy to diversify generation technologies and give industrial customers more options to cut the carbon footprint of the electricity they use, using private capital and development capability alongside its own sites and grid access.
Source: Eskom, "Eskom Holdings launches strategic partners selection process for up to 6GW utility-scale renewable energy projects" — https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-holdings-launches-strategic-partners-selection-process-for-up-to-6gw-utility-scale-renewable-energy-projects/