The tenders will allocate about 3,725 MW with a total anticipated value of about $12 billion.
The winning bidders, with projects totalling 1,416 megawatts, will now have until the 30 June 2012 to have financing in order, with construction to begin shortly thereafter, according to a written statement from the Department of Energy.
PV solar and wind projects were the big winners, with the government giving the nod to 634 MW in wind projects and 632 MW in photovoltaic projects. The government also accepted the bids of proponents for 150 MW of CSP or Concentrated Solar Power.
Currently about 90 percent of South Africa's electricity comes from coal-fired power plants, with about 1 percent coming from renewable sources. The country hopes to increase the percentage of renewables to 8-to-10 percent by 2030.
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