Out of the bids, wind power accounts for just under 30% with eight of the projects selected. The wind power projects total 633.99MW, around 45% of the total of 1415.52 MW.
Of the rest, 18 are solar photovoltaic projects and two concentrated solar power.
In all the first round attracted 53 bids with a combined capacity of 2,127MW. They were evaluated in two stages, first on economic aspects, such as black empowerment, community development and local manufacturing propositions, then on price.
Selected bidders now have until June 2012 to reach financial close and sign a power purchase agreement with state utility Eskom. Projects must be online by mid-2014.
The government has announced two more bidding rounds in 2012, closing on March 5 and August 20, with two more planned for 2013.
