Eskom Green, the clean energy development unit of South African state power utility Eskom, is seeking a strategic partner for a pumped-storage hydropower project with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts (GW) and up to 21 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of storage. The facility is to be located in Limpopo province and is intended to support the integration of greater volumes of renewable energy into South Africa’s national electricity grid.

According to Eskom Green, the plant would be capable of generating electricity at full capacity for up to 14 hours. That capability is designed to balance the grid, ease pressure during peak demand periods, and improve overall supply flexibility.

The project is structured around a strategic partnership that envisages private sector participation in financing, construction, and implementation of the infrastructure. The model is intended to mobilise the financial resources and technical expertise required to bring the development to completion.

To select its partner, Eskom Green has launched what it describes as a competitive process to identify a partner with financial capacity, technical knowledge, development experience, and a long-term commitment. Candidates meeting the eligibility criteria may subsequently be invited to submit formal proposals at a later stage of the process.

The pumped-storage hydropower project forms part of Eskom Green’s broader clean energy expansion strategy. The company is targeting a capacity of up to six GW by 2030, a clean energy portfolio of 21 GW by 2035, and up to 32 GW by 2040.

Those targets include five GW of hydropower and pumped-storage capacity by 2040. Pumped-storage technology works by using surplus electricity to pump water to a higher-elevation reservoir, which is then released through turbines to generate power when demand requires it.

With up to 21 GWh of storage capacity, the project is expected to facilitate the absorption of larger volumes of renewable energy into South Africa’s grid. The ability to operate at peak output for up to 14 hours would also allow the facility to smooth supply fluctuations and respond to shifts in demand.

Eskom Green regards the project as a central element of its plans to build the infrastructure required for a modern, low-carbon electricity system in South Africa. The selection of a strategic partner therefore represents a critical milestone in advancing the development.