The Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) reports that it is engaging with Eskom on its newly released curtailment addendum to the latest Generation Connection Capacity Assessment (GCCA 2025) – through the addendum 3 470 MW of additional connection capacity for wind generators has been unlocked in two grid-constrained provinces.

Prior to the publication of the addendum, the GCCA 2025 indicated there to be no remaining grid capacity available in the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape provinces. But the addendum indicates that, by accepting a “reasonable share of no more than 10% of curtailment”, 2 680 MW of capacity is available in the Western Cape and 790 MW in the Eastern Cape.

The changes have potential implications for those wind IPPs preparing to bid for a 3 200 MW allocation included as part of Bid Window Seven (BW7) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, which was launched on December 14.

However, in response to an enquiry, the IPPO told Engineering News that it was “unable to comment at this stage other than the fact that this capacity will be considered for incorporation as part of BW7”.

“We are currently engaging with Eskom on this issue and will communicate further with potential bidders.

“All potential bidders on the programme are also reminded to approach Eskom for cost estimate letters by the cut-off date of 31 January 2024 and such applications could cover the Western and Eastern Cape where capacity has been unlocked through curtailment,” the IPPO said.

The closing date for bid submissions under BW7, through which government is also seeking to procure 1 800 MW of solar photovoltaic, is April 30.