The Department of Electricity and Energy announced on 7 October 2026 that the first section-34 determination under the Integrated Resource Plan 2025 will prioritise 4,600 MW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and 5,000 MW of gas-to-power. No new wind or solar capacity is included in this initial allocation.
What changed
- The first IRP 2025 determination will allocate 4,600 MW of BESS and 5,000 MW of gas-to-power, totalling 9,600 MW of storage and dispatchable supply.
- The allocation makes no provision for new wind or solar capacity in this round; future determinations will consider those technologies.
- All five projects in the first battery storage bid window (totaling 513 MW) reached commercial close by June 2025 and entered construction, attracting R15.4 billion in investment.
Why it matters if you have or want solar
This section is SolarGuide's reading, not the source's. The focus on storage and gas-to-power aims to reduce curtailment, the loss of usable electricity when the grid cannot accept generation. For rooftop solar owners, more storage on the system could mean fewer periods where excess solar is wasted, potentially improving the value of your own generation. For those considering solar, the policy signals that the grid will rely on batteries to shift surplus electricity to peak times, which may affect future feed-in arrangements and the timing of any additional solar procurement.
What to do now
- Nothing changes for rooftop solar owners now; the announcement does not alter existing tariffs or feed-in rules.
- Keep an eye on subsequent IRP determinations for any inclusion of new solar or hybrid projects that could affect incentives or connection priorities.
What we don't know yet
- The exact timeline for the second IRP determination that will address wind, solar and hybrid projects.
- How the new BESS and gas-to-power allocations will influence electricity tariffs for households and small businesses.
- Details of any changes to net-metering or export tariffs that may result from reduced curtailment.
