TotalEnergies to construct hybrid renewables project in South Africa

TotalEnergies SE (TTE) has announced plans to develop a hybrid renewables project in South Africa. The firm in partnership with Hydra Storage Holding and Reatile Renewables will construct a 216 MW solar plant and a 500 MWh battery storage system.

Expected to start commercial operation in 2025, the project aims to provide clean energy for twenty years, contributing over 400GW hours per year to the South African national grid. It will supply 75 MW of dispatchable power to the national utility Eskom through a Power Purchase Agreement.

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Vision

TTE aims to achieve net zero by 2050 and has set a goal of generating more than 100 terawatt hours of clean energy by 2030. The company plans to increase its renewable energy portfolio through acquisitions, partnerships, and organic growth.

TTE had a gross renewable electricity generation installed capacity of 17 GW by the end of 2022. It intends to make substantial annual investments in its renewable business to expand global operations.

TotalEnergies, like other major oil and gas companies such as ExxonMobil, BP, and Chevron, is diversifying its portfolio towards low-carbon and clean energy businesses. TTE is gradually building a portfolio of low-carbon businesses, aiming for 15-20% of sales from these businesses by 2040.

There is a global transition in the energy sector with a focus on reducing emissions and increasing the use of clean energy sources. Utilities are expanding their clean energy portfolios, and technological advancements in large battery storage projects are making renewable projects more reliable. The International Energy Agency predicts that renewable energy will constitute nearly 50% of the global electricity mix, up from 30%.