Two new solar plants to open in South Africa

• 9 years ago (2015-01-19)
• Junior Isles

Africa 303 Nuclear 640 Renewables 752

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The South African Department of Energy (DoE) has recently announced that two new Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants will be built in the Northern Cape.

Kathu Solar Park and Redstone Solar Thermal Power were the preferred bidders in the third round of the government's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), the DoE said.

Backing Kathu Solar Park is a consortium led by GDF Suez consisting of Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust, Investec Bank, Lereko Metier and Public Investment Corporation; whereas the Redstone Solar Thermal Plant project is being backed by SolarReserve, a Saudi-based water and power developer.

Kevin Smith, Chief Executive of SolarReserve said that: "The 100 MW project... will be able to reliably deliver a stable electricity supply to more than 200 000 South African homes during peak demand periods, even well after the sun has set... Due to the fully integrated thermal energy storage, the plant will provide dispatchable power on-demand, just like conventional coal, oil, nuclear or natural gas-fired power plants..."

This follows previous REIPPPP rounds aimed at unlocking South Africa's solar potential.