Page 21 - Energize March 2021

NEWS

Hybrid facility selected as preferred

bidder in the risk mitigation programme

o-founder of G7 Renewable Energies and Director of Oya Energy, Dr Killian Hagemann,
has welcomed the announcement by the South African Minister of Mineral Resources and
CEnergy (DMRE), Gwede Mantashe, of the winners of the Government’s Risk Mitigation IPP
Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP).
Developed by G7 Renewable Energies, the 128 MW Oya Energy Hybrid Facility in the Karoo was
awarded Preferred Bidder status.
“This is an important milestone for G7. We are incredibly proud of our team and grateful for
the support of our world-class partners.” Dr Hagemann said. “It validates our ability to pivot our
expertise to develop cutting edge hybrid renewable energy projects in South Africa. After years of
G7 spearheading the wind energy industry in the country, the unique opportunity of the RMIPPPP Dr Hagemann
– to provide reliable, low cost, on demand power to South Africa - challenged us to pioneer beyond
conventional parameters,” Dr Hagemann says.
The Oya project is a unique hybrid facility that will be offering dispatchable renewable Renewable Energy Development Zone (REDZ).
energy to Eskom. Oya Energy (Pty) Ltd will own and operate the 128 MW plant near the town of G7 Director Nicolas Rolland said that
Matjiesfontein, straddling the Western and Northern Cape Provinces. Oya will be the largest the site was selected after years of an
hybrid energy project in Africa and is unique in the world in terms of technology mix, size, and extensive and rigorous investigation. “The
price. The Oya Energy Hybrid Project will utilise co-located wind turbines, solar PV arrays, Li-ion ideal site comprises several factors such
batteries and a hybrid controller that orchestrates all three technologies to provide dispatchable as wind and solar resources and their
power to the grid as and when needed. complementarity, suitable topography,
Dr Hagemann adds, “The Oya project matches and exceeds governments expectations as it is grid proximity and capacity, accessibility,
extremely competitive while still complying with all strict requirements set by the IPP office and as well as limited environmental and
its advisors, guaranteeing full compliance in terms of South African regulations. Value for money permitting constraints,” he said. “Oya
has played a key role in the design choices and operational philosophy and we look forward to the embraces all aspects of the Risk Mitigation
successful completion of the project.” Independent Power Producer Procurement
“With Oya we are pushing the boundaries of what renewable energy can provide to electricity Programme, acknowledging that the
grids not only in South Africa but around the world. While in the last few years these technologies programme aims to act as a key driver for
have proven to be the cheapest form of generation, some observers continue to criticise wind and long term economic development in the
solar for its lack of reliability and dependability, especially at times when the grid is under strain. local communities.”
Through its unique combination of co-located wind turbines and PV arrays with a large battery, Construction of the Oya Energy Hybrid
Oya can provide some power on demand at a lower cost than flexible gas projects and practically Project should start before the end of 2021
without harmful CO2 or other emissions, bringing us closer to our 2050 vision of powering South with a fast-tracked completion date of no
Africa’s electricity grid on 100% renewables,” Dr Hagemann adds. longer than 18 months thereafter to help
As early as 2009, G7 Renewable Energies identified and secured various high potential sites ease South Africa’s power crisis. n
across the country with the help of its ground-breaking first comprehensive wind map of the
country based on a mesoscale model. The key strength of Oya’s location is its natural resources Contact G7 Renewable Energies,
together with relative proximity to the national grid. The project also falls within the Komsberg Tel 021 300-0610, info@oya.energy

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