Two new renewable energy projects for the Cape – a solar park in the NC; a battery park in Worcester
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Two new renewable energy projects, a solar plant in the Northen Cape, and a battery park in Worcester, have been greenlit by Eskom.
Renewable energy company SolarAfrica is set to begin construction on its solar farm project in the Northern Cape after receiving a grid allocation quote from Eskom.
This follows the new selection of private providers under Eskom’s Energy Action Plan, after SolarAfrica acquired customers signing with their virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs), such as Vantage Data Centres, Attacq, and NCP Chlorchem.
The company plans to build its first solar farm, SunCentral, in De Aar, Northern Cape, with a total capacity of up to 1GW across three phases. The first phase will offer around 300MW generated by more than 560 000 solar panels, says the company.
As part of Eskom’s new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) initiative, which aims to help smooth peak demand and the intermittent nature of renewable supply, the Hex Battery Energy Storage System in Worcester has also been commissioned.
It is the first of its kind in the country, a 20MW plant that can store 100 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy, enough to power a small town for up to five hours.
The Worcester site cost over R830 million and is the first of eight sites in Phase 1, with a total storage capacity of 1,440MWh per day and a 60MW solar PV capacity.
Funding was provided by loans from the African Development Bank, New Development Bank (BRICS), and the World Bank.
Karpowership
Turkish power-ship manufacturer has also sealed the deal for providing power to South Africa’s beleaguered ports. They plan to produce up to 450 MW of electricity by 2024, with the financial deal for Richard’s Bay expected to be signed by the end of the year.
Two additional gas-powered floating stations are planned, totalling an expected 1.2 GW, under a 20-year contract with five- and ten-year exit clauses.
Environmental impact permits are expected to arrive for the other two sites, Saldanha and Coega in the coming weeks.
The company, having largely monopolised the peculiar service niche of power ships, are in talks with several African countries, including Nigeria, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Togo, and Cameroon, with Guinea-Bissau already receiving 100% of its electricity from Karpowership.
The company also operates its own refuelling units and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.
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