South African power utility Eskom is expanding its research into renewable energy technology with a plan to build a pilot renewable green hydrogen facility (RHF).

It has issued an invitation to tender (ITT) for the construction of the test facility at its research, testing and development unit in Johannesburg. The research unit already hosts a 400 kW solar PV pilot facility and battery test plants.

ITweb reports that the facility will help Eskom understand the green hydrogen value chain and how it might be integrated into its decarbonisation strategy.

‘Eskom is following a differentiated approach and multiple pathways to move from a high-carbon to low-carbon economy, and we are aggressively seeking creative, technology-led solutions to achieve this,’ says group chief executive Dan Marokane.

While the utility still operates coal- and nuclear-powered power stations, it has an executable pipeline of 2 GW of clean energy projects over the next two years and more than 20 GW in development, according to Engineering News.

The utility also recently issued an ITT for firms with a proven track record renewable energy to help it accelerate the deployment of renewable-energy solutions.

3 June 2025
Image: Freepik