G7 Renewable Energies has announced a major milestone as the Oya Energy Hybrid Dispatchable Facility (Oya Energy) achieved legal close in South Africa’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP). Oya Energy (Pty) Ltd secured a 20-year power purchase agreement with South African state utility Eskom and an Implementation Agreement with the country’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE). Once operational, Oya Energy is set to deliver vital dispatchable energy and capacity to the South African grid.
Developed through a collaboration between G7 Renewable Energies, ENGIE, Meadows Energy, and Perpetua, the 128MW Oya Energy Facility, situated in the Karoo, attained Preferred Bidder status in the RMIPPPP in March 2021. This ambitious project integrates 86.4 MW of wind energy, 155 MW of solar Photo Voltaic arrays, and 94MW/242MWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery storage at a single site, managed by a unique hybrid plant controller. This integration of wind, solar, and battery technologies allows Oya Energy to supply dispatchable power to the grid, making it one of the largest hybrid energy projects in Africa and a global leader in terms of technology mix, size, and cost-effectiveness.
Spanning the Western and Northern Cape Provinces of South Africa, Oya Energy will operate at approximately 75% capacity between 5 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., coinciding with peak national electricity demand hours. What sets this project apart is the cutting-edge Oya Energy management system, a world-first bespoke solution that employs AI and machine learning. This system optimizes capacity, availability, and predictability, accounting for variable solar and wind resources, intricacies of the lithium-iron-phosphate battery energy storage, complex connection requirements, and evolving grid demands. Oya Energy’s capabilities extend to providing backup renewable energy power, dispatchable or on-demand, to an estimated 240,000 to 320,000 households. Additionally, it can offer ancillary services to grid stabilization, helping manage voltage and frequency variations.
Dr. Kilian Hagemann, CEO of G7 Renewable Energies, expressed his enthusiasm for this achievement, stating, “This is a momentous milestone for G7 and its partners in the Oya Project. We are incredibly proud of our team and grateful for the support of our strategic equity partner, ENGIE.” He highlighted the significance of this project in advancing complex and efficient hybrid renewable energy initiatives in South Africa. Dr Hagemann acknowledged the unique challenge posed by the RMIPPPP, which seeks to provide reliable, low-cost, on-demand, and clean energy to South Africa. The project’s success reflects the dedication of Eskom, the DMRE, and the IPP office in realizing this pioneering effort.
Oya Energy’s completion and future operation hold the promise of a more reliable and sustainable energy supply for South Africa, significantly reducing load shedding and supporting the nation’s transition toward cleaner and more efficient power generation.
