- Eskom launches construction of a 75MW solar power plant at Lethabo Power Station in the Free State.
- The R1.2bn project will generate about 147GWh annually and supply electricity to around 60,000 households.
- Eskom plans to develop 6GW of renewable and storage capacity across its coal power station footprint by 2030.
South Africa’s state utility Eskom has officially started construction of a 75MW solar power plant at Lethabo Power Station in the Free State Province, marking a major step in integrating utility scale renewable energy generation into the company’s existing coal fired power station infrastructure.
The new solar facility, valued at approximately R1.2bn, is expected to generate about 147GWh of electricity annually once completed. Eskom said the project will provide power to an estimated 60,000 households while also supporting local economic development and skills training during construction and operations.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by South African Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, Eskom Board Chairman Mteto Nyati and Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane, alongside senior executives and municipal leaders.
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Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane said the project reflects the utility’s progress in stabilising South Africa’s electricity supply while preparing for future energy needs.
“Last week we celebrated 365 days without loadshedding, as a result of the focused delivery over the past three years of the generation recovery plan by our skilled employees. Now that we have delivered a stable electricity platform for the South African economy to grow from, we can seamlessly enable the integration of renewable energy sources as required by the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan to maintain future energy security,” said Marokane.
Eskom Group Executive for Generation Bheki Nxumalo said the Lethabo solar development demonstrates Eskom’s strategy of strengthening existing generation assets while adding lower carbon capacity.
“Our coal fired operations remain central to grid stability, and we are strengthening that foundation by integrating renewable capacity on the same footprint,” Nxumalo said.
Eskom Group Executive for Renewables Rivoningo Mnisi described the project as a significant milestone within Eskom Green’s renewable energy pipeline and part of the utility’s broader strategy to diversify South Africa’s generation mix and support the country’s Just Energy Transition objectives.
The Lethabo project forms part of Eskom’s wider renewable energy and storage programme, which includes 17 priority projects planned across existing coal power station sites between now and 2028. Eskom expects these projects to collectively add around 6GW of new generation capacity by 2030.
The utility plans to deploy renewable energy projects at several major power stations, including Arnot Power Station, Duvha Power Station, Majuba Power Station, Tutuka Power Station, Komati Power Station, Kendal Power Station and Kusile Power Station.
Eskom said the Lethabo solar project also forms part of a construction ready pipeline of at least 2GW of renewable energy and pumped storage projects scheduled to advance during 2026. Funding for these developments has already been allocated within Eskom’s approved capital expenditure programme and will be financed through on balance sheet funding in line with National Treasury debt relief conditions.
Looking ahead, Eskom Green plans to expand beyond Eskom owned land and decommissioning sites by pursuing partnerships, co development opportunities and acquisitions of advanced renewable energy projects in high resource regions.
The utility said its long term strategy includes building a diversified portfolio combining solar PV, wind, battery energy storage systems, pumped storage and emerging technologies such as green hydrogen.
Eskom Green aims to advance more than 32GW of renewable energy and storage projects by 2040 as part of Eskom’s broader emissions reduction and energy diversification strategy.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
