FACILITATING A SMOOTH
TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE
ENERGY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

EMPOWERING AFRICA THROUGH
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROJECTS

Scion Energy’s Vision is to be an outstanding project developer in Africa’s renewable and clean energy space, realising unique, high impact, sustainable energy projects with significant social and economic benefits.

LOW COST POWER

CARBON REDUCTION

SUSTAINABILITY

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Scion Energy focuses on hydropower solutions, utilising variable energy renewables to increase overall power dispatchability.

ENERGY TRANSITION

Scion Energy is a facilitator for the smooth transition to renewable energy in the Southern Africa, utilising its abundant natural resources to produce
cost-effective and sustainable power solutions, with a focus on aiding grid stability.

The group focuses on the hydropower opportunities present on the African continent, and specifically on small to medium run-of-river hydro, as well as opportunities for retrofits on existing infrastructure.

Although the hydropower opportunities in South Africa are more limited, Scion Energy’s focus is on developing unique dispatchable energy solutions which can assist in solving grid stability and aid in South Africa’s transition to renewable energy. Hybrid renewable solutions, utilising the abundant solar and wind opportunities in South Africa, are sought to improve the dispatchability and feasibility of the projects pursued.

APPROACH

Scion Energy has a unique approach to identifying and developing projects, which is one of its key foundations for success.

Local knowledge and understanding of the business environment – on a regional and national level.
Specific experience and knowledge, particularly in the water resources and energy sectors.
In-depth knowledge and understanding of project development suitable for the African continent – from project identification through to financial close.
Sophisticated inhouse spatial modelling software to accurately identify, scope and model potential projects.
Experienced team with expertise in design engineering, project development, operations, and project financing.
Focus on early stakeholder engagement, including with communities affected by projects, regulatory authorities, technology partners and contractors.
Technology orientated, with knowledge of best available technology for each application.
Ability to meaningfully integrate/engineer social benefits into projects.

Scion Energy’s project development approach is aligned with the Hydropower Sustainability Guidelines on Good International Industry Practice (HGIIP) sustainability practices.

FOCUS AREAS

Pump Storage

Hydro Pump Storage
1,500 to 2,000 MW
>140,000 MWh Battery Storage

Run of River Hydro

Utilising water resources with consistent
flow and minimal seasonality Ranging
from 1 MW to 20 MW

Hydro Agri

Using Run-of-River Hydro to create pump energy for irrigation
400 – 600 Ha irrigation/MW generated

Dam Hydro

Hydropower retrofits to existing dams
Ranging from 1 MW to 100 MW
.

Hybrids

Solar PV and Wind combined
with hydro and/or hydro pump
Production of 150 – 2,000 MWe Dispatchable Power

Scion Energy’s focus is the development of hydropower facilities, specifically run-of-river hydropower, which offers minimal disruption to the natural environment. The pumped energy generated from run-of river hydropower can also be utilised for irrigation purposes, allowing for the development of socio-economic development projects which can benefit the local communities in the power plant’s vicinity.

Scion Energy also prioritises the retrofitting of hydro turbines to dams, where infrastructure is already in place.

Scion Energy, having its roots in South Africa, is invested in creating a sustainable platform for the rollout of more variable renewable energy in the country, with electrical energy storage being the key to enabling this transition. Scion Energy therefore has a specific focus on gridscale hydro pumped storage opportunities in South Africa. These facilities, when hybridised with renewable energy (floating or land-based solar PV, or wind energy), offer significant quantities of dispatchable energy to the electrical grid.

Scion Energy has identified more than 400 projects across Southern Africa for development, with 50 of these being priority projects based mainly in its established regions of South Africa, DRC, Zambia and Lesotho.

FOOTPRINT

Scion Energy has established project development companies in South Africa, DRC, Zambia and Lesotho, with opportunities being pursued in Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar and Sao Tome/Principe.

Scion Energy partners with local experts in all countries and in specific regional areas to ensure successful local stakeholder engagement and representation in the areas in which it works.

It is of key importance to Scion Energy that it works with like-minded individuals and companies to ensure that its projects benefit the countries and communities in which they are located.

PORTFOLIO

Scion Energy, using its sophisticated special development tool or GIS system, has identified more than 400 hydro and renewable energy projects across Africa for development, with more than 50 of these being Priority one projects, equating to a total installed capacity of more than 6,000 MWe.

Priorities have been assigned based on key factors determined through pre-feasibility analyses, including commercial and technical viability, proximity to the grid, proximity to large offtakers, constructability and hydrological consistency.

Scion Energy’s Priority one projects include three grid scale hydroelectric pump storage projects located in strategic positions across South Africa, with these three projects allowing for the generation of 5,000 MWe alone. The balance of projects include small to medium run-of-river hydroelectric projects, dam-based hydroelectric projects, and hybrid renewable projects, which incorporate wind and solar PV solutions for improved power dispatchability.

Scion Energy has secured the property and concession rights to several key projects currently under development. Together with its international technology suppliers and partners, Scion Energy has the
pre-requisite experience to design the facilities and oversee construction. In co-operation with its technology partners, it is also able to operate and maintain facilities under service level agreements.

PUMP STORAGE PROJECTS

Scion Energy’s three flagship pump storage projects, located at strategic sites across South Africa, will generate a total of 5,000 MWe at a 95% dispatchability factor. The projects, which together provide more than 94,000 MW.hr battery storage, are critical enabling projects for the development of VRE’s and thereby meet and exceed the objectives of the Just Energy Transition Program (JETP).

With the realisation of all three pump storage projects, an equivalent carbon reduction of more than three gigatons per year will be achieved (inclusive of curtailed renewable energy power, and behind the meter variable renewable energy), which represents 150% of South Africa’s commitment to the UN.

In addition to this, the projects will offer much needed water security to some of South Africa’s driest provinces. They will also offer 350,000 to 400,000 jobs to South Africans over a period of eight to ten years (the development and construction periods).

The projects have the potential to be the lowest cost projects of their type in the world, with an LCOE for Dispatchable Power, including storage, being as low as $0.050/kWh for the largest of the three projects.

Scion Energy develops clean energy projects with the most favourable economics, the lowest environmental footprint and the greatest socio-economic impact.

ABOUT US

Scion Energy, established by South African founding members with many years’ experience in the South African Energy and Water sectors, is responding to the call to energy transition in Southern Africa.

Our key to success lies in our ability to efficiently identify and access unique and unexploited opportunities, particularly in hydropower and hydro pump storage.

Energy has established a sophisticated geographical spatial system (GIS) to enable the identification of unique hydropower opportunities and to establish their prefeasibility. This tool, which contains information on all critical infrastructure, as well as topography, has allowed for the identification of more than 400 potential projects across the African content, providing Scion Energy with a significant competitive advantage and head start in initiating and realising these projects.

Our focus is identifying and developing clean energy projects with the most favourable economics, the lowest environmental footprint and the greatest socio-economic impact. Our projects support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the markets where we operate, while delivering consistent and competitive returns.

The Scion Energy team is a high impact team, working with the best global technology and strategic partners. Our team members have extensive knowledge of the energy sector, as well as local knowledge to realise specific regional projects. Our success lies in our ability to efficiently identify and access unique and unexploited opportunities, particularly in hydro power and hydro pump storage. Our knowledge of the Southern Africa market, with key partners in our countries and regions of operation, as well as a wide network of local partners and expertise, enables us to access unique project investment opportunities.

Scion Energy partners with technology suppliers, larger project development companies or independent power producers and investors on a project-by-project basis, as dictated by the project scale and specific project requirements.

It is of key importance to Scion Energy that it works with like-minded individuals and organisations with a common goal of, not only creating value for shareholders, but creating a positive working environment which drives success, while ensuring that the projects, once realised, have a net positive impact on surrounding communities.

MEET OUR TEAM

Barthlo Harmse
Group CEO

Barthlo, the Group CEO and one of the company founders, has an MSc in Chemical Engineering. He has a wealth of experience in strategic leadership, business development and management, and project development, execution and commissioning in the oil & gas and energy sectors.

Karen Rowe
Group COO

Karen, the group’s chief operating officer, has a process engineering background and has held various project development and general manager positions within the South African energy sector. Her experience covers a range of commercial, strategic, project development and general management functions.

Arno Ottermann
Group CTO

Arno, one of Scion’s founder members, is the group’s chief technical officer. He is also the owner and managing director of Pula Strategic Resource Management. He is a professional civil and agricultural engineer with expertise in hydraulic design, water resources, socio economic and rural development.

Jan Greyling
Group Strategic Advisor

Jan Greyling is an experienced leader in mineral exploration and mining across Africa. He specialises in navigating geopolitical risks, project funding, deal structuring, and provides strategic advisory expertise to Scion Energy Group.

Nonyameko (Nyami) Mandindi
Scion Energy South Africa – Director

Nyami holds a BSc in quantity surveying and is a versatile and skilled executive, with leadership expertise spanning over three decades in the construction and engineering industries. She has worked across African markets in areas of leadership, strategic management and futuristic thought leadership in those industries, having held executive positions in various companies in the industry in SA and globally.

Nhanhla Mjoli Mncube
Scion Energy South Africa – Partner and Advisor

Nhlanhla is an accomplished director with a robust background in executive leadership, strategic planning, and organisational development. With expertise spanning business planning, analytical skills, government relations, and gender mainstreaming, she has held pivotal roles in diverse sectors, including research, housing finance, construction, and policy advocacy.

Thierry Naweji
Scion Energy DRC – MD

Thierry, with a background in electrical engineering, is a proficient businessman, with a passion for management and politics. He is a recognized expert in the Democratic Republic of Congo with entrenched networks in the country’s private and public sectors. He is a co-founder of the SA-DRC Chamber of Commerce based in South Africa.

Fred Chipasha
Scion Energy Zambia – MD

Fred is a CA(UK) and corporate finance, technology and risk expert, actively driving energy deals and Fintech solutions across the African continent. Fred spent 8 years at Ernst and Young Advisory services and Standard Bank South Africa and currently chairs the diversified group of companies – Finworth Global services.

Monde Tyusha
Scion Energy EC – Chair

Monde is instrumental in the development of Scion’s projects within the Eastern Cape. He is an experienced energy practitioner and strategic leader, with a strong technical background, having held various CEO and Board positions in the oil & gas sector in South Africa.

Dewald Smit
Multilubad – MD

Dewald has a financial background with vast experience in business development, focussing on strategic leadership, financial modelling and project implementation. He has held various positions in top management and as a Board Member in the financial, construction and mining industries.

Ramosothoane Shale
Multilubad Business Development

Ramosothoane has held various management positions in the mining industry in South Africa and cannabis sector in Lesotho. He has also years of experience in communal networking.

Ruan Pretorius
Group Project Engineer

Ruan has an MSc in Chemical Engineering. He is a project engineer and an expert in project techno-economic modelling. Ruan assists in project development, project engineering and project modelling throughout the Scion group.

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

Pula Strategic Resource Management is a key strategical partner of Scion Energy. Pula’s speciality is strategic planning, civil and hydraulic design, procurement, construction supervision, contract management and infrastructure asset management in the water, energy and agricultural sectors.

Pula was the original developer of the web-based Geospatial Information System (GIS), which is a spatial planning tool utilised by Scion Energy for its project identification, planning and prefeasibility analyses. The tool offers spatial planning by utilising detailed information on topography, land use, rainfall and upstream water use to model river flows for hydropower generation.
A sophisticated catchment and hydrology modelling module for hydropower plant assessments allows for execution of ‘Run of River’ projects with uncertain hydrology.

Scion Energy offers opportunity for investment into its
group companies or into specific projects.

INVESTMENT

Scion Energy invites investors to explore opportunities to participate in the development of projects within the Scion Energy group and to enable the realisation of significant projects for South Africa and the greater Southern Africa.

This may include:

Participation on a group holding level, with the funding used to assist in developing and unlocking more of the Priority 1 projects, which includes completing the relevant feasibility studies and regulatory approvals such that financial close for the projects can be realized.
Investment into the country-specific or regional entities to unlock specific projects in these regions.
Investment into the project special purpose vehicles on a project-by-project basis, including the grid-scale pump storage projects.