International energy company ENGIE reports that construction of its 240 MW Corona solar PV project in the Free State should begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, after the project was named as a preferred bidder by government.

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa confirmed on December 15 that the Carona project, together with three other solar PV projects, had progressed to preferred bidder status under Bid Window 7 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.

The projects were all the subject of value-for-money consultations arising following a technology reallocation from wind to solar PV under the 5 000 MW round, which initially allocated 3 200 MW to wind and 1 800 MW to solar PV.

Prior to the reallocation, only eight solar PV projects with a combined capacity of 1 760 MW were selected as preferred bidders in December 2024, with the wind projects bid having struggled to secure grid connections.

An additional six PV projects with a combined nameplate of 1 290 MW were named in July 2025 following the technology reallocation, while value-for-money talks were initiated for other projects bid during the round, including the Corona project.

The other three projects named on December 15 were the 240 MW Rondebosch Solar Park, in Mpumalanga, the 240 MW Springhaas Solar Facility 1 and the 170 MW Springhaas Solar Facility 6, in the Free State. The projects are being developed by Red Rocket.

The four projects named have a combined investment value of R16-billion.

In a statement, ENGIE indicated that the Corona project should enter into commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2028 and would strengthen its established renewables portfolio in South Africa, which included over 1.2 GW of operational wind, solar and concentrated solar power facilities.

In addition, the company was also prequalified on December 15 to bid for South Africa’s inaugural independent transmission project (ITP) tender, through which government is broadening grid infrastructure development to private-sector participation.

“These awards reflect ENGIE’s long-term commitment to South Africa’s energy transition,” said ENGIE South Africa CEO Mohamed Hoosen.

“Generation and transmission must advance together if the country is to unlock new capacity at the pace required.

“Bid Window 7 strengthens our renewable pipeline, while the ITP award allows us to contribute to the grid backbone that makes that growth possible,” he added.