French energy group EDF says the consolidation of its two international low-carbon businesses into a new entity called EDF power solutions has repositioned it to implement multi-technology projects in the 25 countries in which it operates, including South Africa, where it has a goal of closing 5 GW of projects by 2030.

EDF power solutions Southern Africa VP Tristan de Drouas says the merged entity, which combines EDF Renewables and the EDF Group International Division, has expertise in wind, solar, hybrid, hydropower and pump hydro storage, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and biomass.

He reports that the new-look independent power producer is aiming to add some 500 MW of new projects yearly in South Africa to 2030. This, in addition to its four operational wind farms with a combined capacity of 142 MW in operation and 1.5 GW of wind, solar and BESS assets currently under construction across 11 sites.

“The projects are expected to come online between the end of 2025 and 2026.

“They include solar farms, BESS, wind energy facilities, and the construction of a Main Transmission Substation for the national utility, Eskom,” de Drouas adds.

He notes that EDF power solutions has also seen rapid growth in demand from private offtakers, facilitated by its Envusa Energy JV with Anglo American, which will seek to develop up to 5 GW of renewable-energy capacity by 2030.

The company, which has been present in South Africa since 2009, has also achieved recent successes in securing BESS projects through public auctions, which have been launched to help Eskom manage a higher penetration of variable renewable electricity.

“Our Oasis 2 project, awarded in the second bid window of the Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, exemplifies this shift.

“With 77 MW of capacity and 308 MWh of storage, it is designed to stabilise supply and enhance grid resilience.”

The combined entity, de Drouas reports,  will also be pursuing hydropower opportunities in Southern Africa and Lesotho, owing to the group’s expertise in the technology.

“In Africa, the Nachtigal hydro plant, which EDF power solutions built in Cameroon became operational on 18 March 2025.

“This flagship project delivers 420 MW, supplying 30% of Cameroon’s electricity needs.

“It serves as a model that EDF power solutions intends to replicate across Southern Africa, with projects currently under construction in Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar,” de Drouas says.