US Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman confirmed on Monday that two American renewable energy firms were among the first 28 project developers named as preferred bidders by South Africa’s Department of Energy in December. The companies were identified as SolarReserve and SunEdison.

He also indicated during a media roundtable in Johannesburg that yet other US companies were keen to participate in subsequent tendering rounds under South Africa’s programme to procure an initial 3 725 MW of renewable energy from independent power producers between 2012 and 2016.

SolarReserve is part of a consortium, comprising Kensani Group and Intikon Energy, for the Letsatsi and Lesedi solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, in the Free State and Northern Cape provinces. Both projects would have nameplate capacities of 64 MW.

No details were immediately available for the SunEdison-linked project, which would also be a solar PV development. A SunEdison spokesperson told Engineering News Online that the company would comment only once the contracts were in place.

The projects were among an initial batch of 53 bids submitted for the November 4 bid window.

The preferred bidders named included 18 solar PV projects, eight onshore wind projects and two concentrated solar power (CSP) projects, representing a combined potential capacity of 1 415.52 MW.

Poneman confirmed that several other US companies were interested in onshore wind and further solar opportunities, including CSP developments, and that these companies were likely to bid during subsequent tendering rounds. The next bid window was expected to close during March, with a subsequent window scheduled for August.

The initial bidders named in December had until June 2012 to take their projects to financial closure and secure 20-year power purchase agreements with State-owned power utility Eskom.