EDF power solutions and Anglo American have commissioned of the 520 MW Koruson 2 renewable energy cluster in South Africa, expanding the supply of clean electricity to mining operations and strengthening the country’s industrial energy transition.
The development, implemented through their joint venture Envusa Energy, is situated along the boundary between the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces. It comprises two wind farms and a solar photovoltaic (PV) facility designed to deliver renewable electricity to industrial consumers through South Africa’s national power grid.
Koruson 2 consists of the 140 MW Umsobomvu Wind Project, the 140 MW Hartebeesthoek Wind Project and the 240 MW Mooi Plaats solar PV plant. Combined, the three facilities have an installed generation capacity of 520 MW and represent the first phase of projects delivered under the Envusa Energy partnership.
The renewable energy facilities are connected to the Hydra supply area through the newly developed Koruson 400 kV Main Transmission Substation. The transmission infrastructure is being implemented under EDF power solutions’ wider Koruson 1 development, enabling electricity generated by the projects to enter the national grid for distribution to customers.
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Decarbonisation targets
Envusa Energy manages the electricity trading arrangements, consolidating power generated by the facilities and delivering it to mining companies under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). The agreements cover a 20-year supply period, with Valterra Platinum securing 461 MW, Kumba Iron Ore contracting 11 MW and De Beers obtaining 48 MW of capacity.
The projects are expected to prevent approximately 2.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The renewable electricity supply is also expected to help participating mining companies manage energy expenditure, reduce their reliance on carbon-intensive electricity and advance their decarbonisation targets.
Local investment and community participation have been incorporated into the project’s financing and ownership structure. South African banks provided 85% of the required debt financing, demonstrating the contribution of domestic financial institutions to large-scale renewable energy development. Meanwhile, Pele Green Energy holds a 20% equity interest across the three project companies.
A community trust has also been established to channel a portion of project revenues to neighbouring communities over the facilities’ 20-year operational period. The arrangement is designed to extend the economic benefits of the development beyond electricity generation through sustained community participation.
Koruson 2 is part of Envusa Energy’s wider renewable energy development strategy in South Africa. The joint venture aims to establish an integrated clean energy supply model combining renewable generation facilities at industrial customer sites with electricity sourced from larger wind and solar developments connected to the national grid.
The commissioning of the 520 MW cluster strengthens the role of privately developed renewable energy in supplying South Africa’s industrial sector. It also highlights the growing importance of corporate power purchase agreements, domestic financing and local ownership in accelerating investment in the country’s clean energy infrastructure.
