Power generation developer ACWA Power has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for its Project DAO – a 150 MW dispatchable renewable hybrid plant located in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province.
The $800-million hybrid plant is poised to become the country’s largest solar photovoltaic installation at 442 MW, complemented by around 1,200 MWh of battery storage.
Operations at the plant are scheduled to commence by Q2 2026 and promise a significant boost to national grid capacity. The PPA was signed by a representative from South Africa’s power utility Eskom, Segomoco Scheppers, and ACWA Power Project DAO signatory, Ashley Singh, with South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resource and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, signing the Implementation Agreement.
The consortium leading the project includes ACWA Power, Thebe Investment Corporation and Aventro Investments.
Beyond its role in delivering clean energy to the national grid, Project DAO aims to stimulate socioeconomic development in South Africa. During its construction phase, the project targets roughly 50% local content in procurement and will generate over 1,000 construction jobs at its peak, with approximately 25% benefiting the local community.