Name and Location
Aries solar energy facility project, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Client
BioTherm Energy, three broad-based black economic-empowerment trusts – the Aries Solar Facility Community Trust, Ikamva Labantu Empowerment Trust and the Malibongwe Women’s Development trust – black economic-empowerment investor Winner’s Circle, and Aurora Power Solutions.

Project Description
The Aries solar energy facility will be built on 20 ha, located about 36 km south-west of Kenhardt, in the Northern Cape.

The facility will include 45 000 solar photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of 10 MW. The panels will be mounted onto angled steel structures that are fixed to the ground and up to 3 m in height.

The project was one of 28 renewable-energy projects identified as preferred bidders under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme in December 2011.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The project reached financial closure in November 2012 and is under construction.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
BYD (solar panels), Nedbank and the Industrial Development Corporation (lenders) and juwi Solar (construction).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
BioTherm Energy, tel +27 11 367 4600, fax +27 11 367 4601 or email info@biothermenergy.com.
Aurora Power Solutions, tel +27 21 421 9764, fax +27 865 138 648 or email info@apsolutions.co.za.