Largest hybrid renewable energy project in South Africa launched

TotalEnergies, alongside Hydra Storage Holding and Reatile Renewables, has launched the Hydra project in the Northern Cape.

The Hydra project combines a 216 MW solar photovoltaic plant with a 500 MWh battery energy storage system.

It will deliver 75 MW of dispatchable renewable power to the national grid daily under a 20-year agreement with Eskom.

The project will bring more than 400 GWh of renewable electricity onto the grid annually, equivalent to the consumption of 200,000 households. 

Hydra project has been developed by a consortium composed of TotalEnergies (35%), Hydra Storage Holding (35%) and Reatile Renewables (30%).

Hydra Storage Holding is a South African renewable energy developer and independent power producer.

Reatile Group is a South African diversified investment holding company focused on addressing the energy challenges of the African continent.

This project is part of South Africa’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, launched by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

“Hydra project enables us to supply dispatchable renewable power to the South African grid,” said Magali Pailhé, Managing Director of TotalEnergies Southern Africa.

“This project reinforces our renewable production capacity in South Africa, the continent’s largest power market in terms of electricity consumption.”