Renewable-energy development company SunEdison will provide an additional 371 MW of electricity to the local grid through five solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, following the selection of preferred bidders for 13 more projects in the fourth bid round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

The plants, located in the Northern Cape and North West, were expected to produce enough energy to power the equivalent of more than 200 000 South African homes.

State-owned utility Eskom would buy the generated electricity under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

"Over the past three years, SunEdison has had a successful record delivering highly reliable, affordable solar power to South Africa.

"We selected project sites that strengthen the Eskom grid and distribute project benefits across a range of communities. Building on SunEdison's previous commitment to employment and social programmes in our host communities, the five projects awarded will offer local enterprise development, skills development and procurement programmes,” said SunEdison Asia Pacific president Pashupathy Gopalan.

After construction, operation and maintenance of the power plant would be performed by SunEdison Services, which provided global 24/7 asset management, monitoring and reporting services.

SunEdison has won 457 MW across six solar power projects in South Africa's fourth round of the REIPPPP.

The company entered the local market in 2011 and has developed, built and operated 130 MW of utility-scale solar power plants.