ABL Group assesses 2 GW renewable energy in South Africa
Energy and marine consultancy ABL Group has been contracted by various developers to provide energy yield assessment for more than 2 GW of potential solar and wind power plants in South Africa.
Approximately 1.5 GW of the energy yield assessment work is related to nine potential solar PV developments in South Africa, with the remaining 500 MW for two potential onshore wind farms. ABL has not disclosed individual project or client names.
ABL’s onshore wind consultants are providing the expert services via the group’s local presence in South Africa, headquartered in Cape Town, but with a second office in the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ).
“South Africa has a leading role to play in the wider continent’s energy transition. It is second only to Morocco in Africa in terms of its energy transition commitments and technical potential. We are really pleased to have the chance to put our global expertise in renewable energies, both within solar PV and wind, to support South Africa in its journey to net-zero.”
Anne Myers, ABL’s country manager for South Africa
Energy yield analysis services are being provided as part of technical due diligence into the proposed sites, to be submitted to the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) – a South African government initiative to accelerate electricity generation via renewable energy sources including solar PV, onshore wind, small hydro, as well as landfill gas, biomass and biogas. If the bids are successful, they will proceed to financial close, followed by the construction phase.
“With the South African energy crisis deteriorating year-on-year and resulting in increased loadshedding, there is no time to lose with adding new generation capacity across the country. The REIPPPP has successfully introduced multiple GWs of utility scale renewable energy across the country, but multiple delays and setbacks have stalled the realisation of projects and created major industry uncertainty. We are very pleased to be working with numerous IPPs on their submissions into Bid Window 6 of the REIPPPP. Hopefully we can continue to play a part in the energy transition of South Africa, moving towards a greener, reliable, and ultimately coal-free electricity system.”
Oliver Davies, OWC’s head of onshore wind
ABL’s consultants work closely with sister company, OWC, home to our Onshore renewables team, to provide a comprehensive service offering in energy yield analysis and resource modelling for onshore and offshore wind energy, plus fixed and floating solar PV. The results of this service feed directly into more accurately projecting a site’s profitability, providing assurance and early risk mitigation to financial and other project stakeholders.
ABL and OWC are both part of Oslo-listed energy consultancy group ABL Group ASA.
Find out more on the range of services we provide to support wind and solar projects in South Africa: