Photon Energy N.V. has announced a major milestone through its South African subsidiary, Photon Renewable Energy Pty Ltd, in developing a 250MW concentrated solar PV plant with 150MW (1.8 GWh, 12 hours) of thermal hydro storage in Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
“This project represents a significant milestone for Photon Energy as we expand our footprint into South Africa. By deploying the advanced RayGen technology and fostering strong collaboration with Eskom and local stakeholders, we are committed to contributing to South Africa’s energy stability and delivering sustainable solutions that benefit both the environment and local communities,” said Georg Hotar, CEO of Photon Energy Group.
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The project has successfully secured 1,200 hectares of land and obtained favorable grid connection terms, enabling the integration of its full capacity into the national grid. Once operational, this facility will enhance South Africa's energy stability and help mitigate the effects of load shedding.
In its next phase, Photon Energy will work alongside Eskom and the local Distribution System Operator (DSO) to design and implement technical solutions for integrating the plant into the regional and national grid. This partnership will ensure grid stability, optimize energy distribution, and provide key services such as frequency regulation and peak load management.
The project is progressing steadily, with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on track for completion by Q4 this year and zoning processes moving forward. Photon Energy is also preparing applications for the NERSA energy license and the Public Participation Process (PPP), essential steps for securing approvals to begin construction. The project is expected to achieve ready-to-build status by Q2 2026.
Photon Energy is pursuing Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) status under South Africa’s Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, which would expedite development timelines and facilitate collaboration with critical stakeholders.
RayGen’s Solar Hydro solution, which combines concentrated solar power with water-based thermal storage, provides long-duration energy storage capable of delivering dispatchable synchronous energy for over 12 hours.
Photon Energy entered into a strategic partnership with RayGen and announced its initial investment in April 2020. Since then, Photon Energy has developed RayGen projects and maintained a 5.44% equity stake in the company, underscoring its commitment to advancing this innovative technology.