Mulilo named preferred bidder for South Africa energy storage projects

Mulilo, which is majority owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, was selected as the preferred bidder for the projects alongside its partner EDF. The three facilities of Oasis Aggeneis, Oasis Mookodi and Oasis Nieuwehoop will deliver cost-effective storage capacity to the country’s electricity grid and will total 1,028MWh / 257MW. 

Construction is expected to commence in mid-2024 and the total cost of the projects is expected to be more than R7bn (approx. US$375mn). 

Jan Oberholzer, chairman of the board in Mulilo, remarked, “This achievement is an important and significant milestone for Mulilo. I am very proud of the entire team that is currently outperforming our business plans and look forward, together with our partners, to the successful execution of these projects. We remain committed playing our important part ensuring sustainable electricity supply needed for economic growth and the betterment in the lives of the 61 million people in our beautiful country.”

Robert Helms, partner at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, added, “Securing preferred bidder status for the majority of the procured capacity in South Africa’s first public battery storage tender together with EDF marks a significant step in the accelerated growth journey of Mulilo. We commend the South African government’s strong commitment to the rapid buildout of battery energy storage, a key focus technology for Mulilo. With the announcement, we are proud for Mulilo to continue its positive contribution to the country’s energy security, socio-economic growth, and green transition.”

There has been significant movement in South Africa’s energy space as solutions to the ongoing load shedding issues continued to be sought. Other notable announcements include Sungrow developing South Africa’s first wind-solar-storage integrated virtual power plant and ACWA Power undertaking the delivery of a 150MW dispatchable renewable hybrid plant.