The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has officially launched the third bid window for the Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP Bid Window 3). This initiative invites interested parties to submit proposals for the procurement of 616 MW of battery energy storage capacity and Ancillary Services.

The bid window seeks proposals for five specific facilities, each to be situated near one of the five substations identified by Eskom in the Free State Province: Harvard, Leander, Theseus, Everest, and Merapi.

Prospective bidders are required to complete an electronic registration form and submit a non-refundable documentation fee of R25,000 per potential project. The Request for Proposals (RFP) will be available for download from March 28, 2024, following payment confirmation.

The deadline for project registration is approximately 20 business days prior to the Bid Submission Date, which is set for July 31, 2024, at 17:00. Bids must be submitted to the Department’s IPP Office in Pretoria.

A bidders’ conference is planned for May 9, 2024, to provide additional details on the process.