Name of the Project
Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) – Bid Window 7 (BW7).

Location
Limpopo, the Free State, North West and Mpumalanga, in South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Department of Electricity and Energy (formerly the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy).

Project Description
In December 2023, the then Department of Mineral Resources and Energy invited interested parties to register prospective bids under REIPPPP – BW7.

BW7 was designed to procure up to 5 000 MW of renewable-energy capacity comprising 1 800 MW of solar PV and 3 200 MW of onshore wind.

The Ministry of Electricity and Energy announced the first eight solar PV preferred bidders, with a combined contracted capacity of 1 760 MW, on December 23, 2024:

• Highveld Solar Consortium (240 MW), Mpumalanga – Infinity Power Holding;
• Palladium Solar 1 Consortium (240 MW), Limpopo – Infinity Power Holding;
• Copper Solar 1 Consortium (240 MW), Limpopo – Infinity Power Holding;
• Vanadium Solar 1 Consortium (150 MW), Limpopo – Infinity Power Holding;
• Middelpunt Solar PV (240 MW), Free State – Mulilo Renewable Project Developments;
• Mercury Solar PV 2 (240 MW), Free State – Scatec Solar Africa;
• Onderstepoort Solar 1 Consortium (220 MW), North West – Infinity Power Holding; and
• Onderstepoort Solar 1 Consortium (190 MW), North West – Infinity Power Holding.

Following a technology reallocation from onshore wind to solar PV, the department announced on July 21, 2025, the appointment of six additional preferred bidders under BW7, providing 1 290 MW of new solar PV generation capacity:

• Oslaagte Solar 2 (293 MW), Free State – Scatec;
• Oslaagte Solar 3 (293 MW), Free State – Scatec;
• Leeuwspruit Solar (260 MW), Free State – Scatec;
• Dwaalboom 3 (180 MW), Free State – Red Rocket South Africa;
• Florida Park (200 MW), Free State – Red Rocket South Africa; and 
• Virginia 4 (210 MW), Free State – Red Rocket South Africa.

On December 15, 2025, after the completion of value-for-money evaluations, a further four solar PV preferred bidders were appointed, adding 890 MW of capacity:

• Rondebosch Solar Park (240 MW), Free State – Red Rocket South Africa;
• Springhaas Solar Facility 1 (240 MW), Free State – Red Rocket South Africa;
• Springhaas Solar Facility 6 (170 MW), Free State – Red Rocket South Africa; and
• Corona Solar PV Project (240 MW), North West – ENGIE.

The total capacity procured under BW7 now amounts to 3 940 MW, to be delivered through 18 solar PV independent power producer projects across Limpopo, the Free State, North West and Mpumalanga.

Potential Job Creation
The first eight solar PV preferred bidders announced in December 2024 committed to creating 6 971 job opportunities for South Africans, measured in job years, during the construction and operational phases of their contracts.

These eight projects will allocate 38.8% of their total project costs to local content, with R7.8-billion allocated during construction and R2.4-billion during operations.
The preferred bidders undertook to invest R3-billion in black enterprise procurement, R2-billion in broad-based black economic-empowerment (BBBEE) procurement on qualifying small enterprises and exempt microenterprises, and R333-million in BBBEE procurement, specifically for black women.
The preferred bidders also committed to spend R73-million on enterprise development, R129-million on socioeconomic development and R138-million on skills development initiatives over the lifetime of the projects.

The four additional preferred bidders announced in December 2025 committed to creating 4 134 job opportunities for South Africans, measured in job years, during construction and operations. These projects will allocate 41% of total project costs to local content, equivalent to R4.4-billion during construction and R2-billion during operations, and will invest a further R163-million in economic development initiatives over construction and the 20-year life of the projects.

Capital Expenditure
Total investments from the eight solar PV preferred bidders announced on December 23, 2024, amount to R31.4-billion.

The four additional solar PV preferred bidders announced on December 15, 2025, represent a further R16-billion investment. No investment value for the six additional preferred bidders appointed in July 2025 has been provided.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated. The four additional projects announced in December 2025 are expected to sign implementation agreements with the Department, but construction and commercial operation dates were not stated.

Latest Developments
On December 15, 2025, Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa announced the appointment of four additional solar PV preferred bidders under BW7, following the conclusion of value-for-money negotiations. The projects add 890 MW of solar PV capacity and increase the total capacity procured under BW7 to 3 940 MW across 18 solar PV projects.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Infinity Power Holding (six projects); Mulilo Renewable Project Developments (one project); Scatec Solar Africa (one project); Red Rocket South Africa (three projects); and ENGIE (one project). 

The BBBEE partners for the three Red Rocket South Africa projects announced in December 2025 are MBY Energy, Jade-Sky Energy and the Red Rocket Opportunity Trust. ENGIE’s BBBEE partners for the Corona Solar PV Project are Cennergi Holdings and a community trust.

Contact Details for Project Information
Independent Power Producer project officer, email query@ipp-renewables.co.za.