Africa's Largest Photovoltaic Power Plant Comes Online

Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The biggest photovoltaic (PV) power facility in Africa is now online in Jasper, in South Africa's Northern Cape province. The 96-megawatt (MW) plant has the capacity to produce 180,000 megawatt hours (mWh) annually, which is equivalent to the requirements of 80,000 households.

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The project developer, SolarReserve (Santa Monica, California), reports that the facility was completed two months ahead of schedule. Jasper is located in a solar park near Kimberley, which includes the 75-MW Lesedi solar power project, which was brought online in May.

In the planning stage is the 100-MW Redstone concentrated solar power (CSP) tower project, which will use SolarReserve's CSP technology with integrated energy storage.

The Jasper project contains 325,000 PV modules, and has a 20-year power-purchase agreement with South Africa's power utility, Eskom. It is also Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) (Mountainview, California) first renewable energy investment in Africa.

The project was developed by a consortium that comprises SolarReserve, Intikon Energy and the local Kensani Group. Equity investment and ownership for the project was provided by a group of international and South African shareholders with experience in all aspects of development. These include South Africa's Public Investment Corporation (PIC).

As part of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPP), a percentage of total project revenues from Jasper will be set aside for enterprise development and socio-economic development for the benefit of the local communities.

"In addition to helping South Africa meet its critical electricity needs, the Jasper project will bring lasting economic benefits to the region," said Kevin Smith, chief executive officer of SolarReserve.

For related information, see July 11, 2014, article - U.S. No. 1 for Utility-Scale Solar Power, South Africa Joins Global Top 10.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.