Energy

Located in Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, the project is making steady progress, with all necessary processes advancing. (Image source: Photon Energy)

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.

Can solar storage transform?

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.

Neosun Energy enters Kenya, providing affordable solar energy solutions to commercial and industrial sectors for sustainable growth. (Image source:

Neosun Energy, a global leader in solar energy solutions, has officially entered the Kenyan market

This expansion focuses on providing cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions for commercial and industrial (C&I) projects, with system capacities ranging from 200kW to 10MW, designed to offer local businesses affordable solar alternatives.

Neosun Energy brings its expertise in constructing solar power stations and advanced energy storage systems to one of Africa’s most promising renewable energy regions.

Kenya’s energy landscape presents both challenges and opportunities, making Neosun Energy’s entry into the market timely. While Kenya is a leader in Africa’s renewable energy sector, with over 80% of its power demand met through green energy, many regions still face significant energy shortages.

With over half a billion people in sub-Saharan Africa lacking reliable electricity access and frequent power outages disrupting businesses, Neosun Energy is stepping in to help local enterprises. "Kenya is among the top five fastest-growing economies in Africa. However, businesses in Kenya still face energy supply shortages, especially in remote areas. The mission of Neosun Energy is committed to providing these companies with affordable and accessible solar energy," said CEO Ilya Likhov.

Neosun’s expansion targets sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, warehousing, and commercial offices. By offering tailored solar PV and Energy Storage Solutions, the company aims to reduce energy costs and increase productivity, benefiting businesses and the wider economy.

Each of the 10 mtu gensets has a rated power of 2,500kW and an operational lifetime of up to 84,000 hours before needing major overhaul. (Image source: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce, a developer of complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications, has commissioned ten mtu gas gensets for the Egyptian Wood Technology Company’s (WOTECH) production plant

The plant is located in northern Egypt and produces medium-density fibreboard (MDF) from rice straw for use in furniture and buildings. The plant avoids the usual practice of burning rice straw, which is a by-product of rice cultivation, and ensures its sustainable use by repurposing it into MDF. The factory is the second of its kind in the world and the first in Africa.

As the facility has no access to the public grid, it relies on the 20-cylinder mtu gas gensets which have a collective output of 25MW. Rolls-Royce worked with local partner Engineering for Industries Co. (INDE) and the Egyptian Maintenance Company (EMC) to supply the mtu Series 4000 L64 FNER gensets, controls and accessories for the WOTECH project, which was established with full Egyptian capital from the oil sector.

“When supporting a project such as the WOTECH facility, where there is no access to the grid utility, the dependability of our mtu gas-powered gensets is paramount,” commented Tobias Ostermaier, president stationary power solutions at Rolls-Royce. “Working with INDE and EMC, we were able to deliver a power solution that met all the customer requirements - being efficient, reliable and offering the combination of best-in-class power density with low emissions.”

Both projects will deliver essential power, energy, and ancillary services to Eskom through 15-year Power Purchase Agreements. (Image source: AMEA Power)

Fast-growing renewable energy company, AMEA Power, has been awarded two major standalone battery energy storage projects (BESS) in South Africa

The Gainfar and Boitekong projects were awarded through Big Window 2 of BESIPPPP and are located in the North West Province. Each will have a capacity of more than 300MWh and are seen as vital to ensuring Eskom’s grid stability. The Gainfar Project will be connected to the Ngwedi substation, while the Boitekong Project will be connected to the Marang substation.

“This achievement marks a major milestone for AMEA Power, as we continue to expand our footprint in South Africa, a key market for us,” remarked Hussain Al Nowais, chairman of AMEA Power. “These projects represent our first successful awards of BESS projects, through a competitive bidding process and underscore our commitment to providing sustainable, resilient and cost-effective energy solutions.

"We are proud to support South Africa’s energy transition, enhance Eskom’s grid reliability, and drive economic growth in the region. With our expanding portfolio, including the 120MW Doornhoek Solar PV project, and our regional office in Johannesburg, we are dedicated to contributing to cleaner, more sustainable energy future for South Africa.”

This announcement follows soon after AMEA Power celebrated Africa’s largest solar energy plant becoming operational in Egypt. Discover the full story by clicking here.