South Africa’s Eskom starts constructing 75 MW of solar

<p>Eskom Green, the renewables arm of <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/20/south-africa-adds-1-6-gw-of-solar-in-2025/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">South Africa</a>’s electricity utility <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/04/02/south-africas-eskom-extends-small-scale-solar-registration-fee-waiver/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Eskom</a>, is building a 75 MW solar project in the country’s Free State province.</p>

<p>The Lethabo solar power station, valued at ZAR 1.2 billion ($73.9 million), is expected to generate approximately 147 GWh of electricity annually once completed, equivalent to the power required for an estimated 60,000 households.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Plans for the project were first announced in <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/04/18/eskom-launches-tender-to-build-75-mw-solar-project-at-coal-plant/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">April 2024</a>. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa granted Eskom a license for the project, which will be located near the 3.7 GW Lethabo Power Plant, in <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/11/06/eskom-secures-licenses-for-125-mw-of-solar/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">November 2024</a>.</p>

<p>A statement from Eskom says the start of construction marks the first step in integrating utility-scale renewable generation within its existing coal-fired power station fleet infrastructure.</p>

<p>“Bringing this solar plant into the Lethabo Power Station site affirms our deliberate strategy to optimize existing assets while accelerating new lower-carbon generation capacity,” said Eskom’s Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo.</p>

<p>The Lethabo project is one of 17 given high-priority status by the utility that will be built out in the coming years. Construction of each of the projects is expected to begin between now and 2028, Eskom says.</p>

<p>The 17 projects have a collective capacity of approximately 6 GW, Eskom adds, including at least 2 GW of renewable energy and pumped storage projects that are construction ready.</p>

<p>Eskom’s latest update adds that Eskom Green is set to develop partnership, acquisitions and co-development opportunities beyond Eskom-owned sites as the utility works towards a wider goal of building more than 32 GW of renewable energy and storage projects by 2040.</p>

<p>In May, Eskom signed a <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/05/13/south-africas-eskom-resorts-to-grid-scale-gravity-energy-storage/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">strategic development agreement</a> with Energy Vault to deploy a 25 MW/100 MWh grid‑scale gravity energy storage system at the Hendrina Power Station in Mpumalanga, eastern South Africa.</p>
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