- Photon Energy’s South African subsidiary, Photon Renewable Energy Pty Ltd, has achieved a significant milestone in developing a 250 MW concentrated solar PV plant with 150 MW (1.8 GWh, 12 hours) of thermal hydro storage in Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
After successfully securing 1,200 hectares of land, the project has received favorable grid connection terms, ensuring it can fully integrate its capacity into the grid.
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“This project represents a significant milestone for Photon Energy as we expand our footprint into South Africa. By deploying the advanced RayGen technology and fostering strong collaboration with Eskom and local stakeholders, we are committed to contributing to South Africa’s energy stability and delivering sustainable solutions that benefit both the environment and local communities,” said Georg Hotar, CEO Photon Energy Group.
In the next phase of development, Photon Energy will collaborate with Eskom to design and implement the necessary technical solutions for integrating the plant into both the regional and national grid.
This partnership aims to ensure grid stability, optimize energy distribution, and provide essential services such as frequency regulation and peak load management. By working closely with the DSO, Photon Energy intends to secure deployment of this advanced technology, delivering significant value to both the energy sector and local communities.
The project is making steady progress, with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be concluded by Q4 this year and zoning processes advancing.
Photon Energy is also preparing to initiate the NERSA (National Energy Regulator of South Africa) energy license application and the PPP (Public Participation Process), key steps toward securing all necessary approvals for construction. The project is expected to reach the ready-to-build status by Q2 2026.
Additionally, Photon Energy is pursuing Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) status under South Africa’s Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission. Achieving SIP designation would provide critical support, enabling expedited development timelines and fostering collaboration with key public and private stakeholders.
RayGen’s Solar Hydro solution addresses the growing need for long-duration energy storage by combining concentrated solar electricity and heat generation with a water-based thermal storage solution that can provide dispatchable synchronous energy over periods exceeding 12 hours.
Photon Energy entered a strategic partnership with and announced its initial investment in RayGen in April 2020.
Along with developing RayGen projects, Photon Energy Group has since April 2020 made several equity investments in RayGen maintaining a 5.44% equity stake in the high-tech company.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
