Governments and utilities scale up renewables and storage auctions worldwide

· Energy · South Africa · United Kingdom

Several countries advanced renewable energy procurement frameworks. South Africa's Eskom launched a qualification process to select strategic partners for up to 6 GW of renewable energy and storage projects, including at least 2 GW of solar and 1 GW/4 GWh of battery storage, within a five-year co-development and investment framework. The UK approved RES's 600 MW Steeple renewables project in Nottinghamshire, a solar and battery storage scheme expected to bring about £224 million ($296.3 million) of investment. France's energy regulator proposed parameters for its first long-term capacity auction, targeting 82 GW including 3 GW eligible for multi-year contracts, for the winter of 2030-31. South Korea detailed draft rules for a new renewables auction market to replace its renewable quota system.

Why it matters：These auctions and frameworks determine how much solar, storage and capacity will be built and who develops it, signaling the pace of the global energy transition and investment flows.

Key points

  • Eskom opened qualification for up to 6 GW of renewables and storage, including 1 GW/4 GWh of battery storage.
  • The UK approved the 600 MW Steeple solar-plus-storage scheme, expected to bring about £224 million of investment.
  • France proposed its first long-term capacity auction, targeting 82 GW for winter 2030-31; South Korea detailed a new auction market.

Sources (original reporting)

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