Industry proponents at the Southern Africa Solar Thermal and Electricity Association-hosted concentrated solar power (CSP) leadership dialogue on Wednesday moved to build a case for the application of CSP technology to complement South Africa’s energy mix shift and make its mark on social economic development.

Presenting their views and current projects, speakers at the dialogue agreed that deploying CSP plants in South Africa would not only provide significant social and economic benefits, but also place the country as Africa’s leader in terms of technology and experience.

Presenters included Spanish company Sener’s Nora Castañeda; Eskom’s Kevin Leask; Solar Thermal Energy Research Group director Paul Gauché; Enolcon MD Dr Guenter Schneider; GeoSun Africa CEO Riaan Meyer and Protemosolar president Dr Luis Crespo.

CSP was deemed an affordable, grid-friendly technology, with the potential to firmly contribute to future clean-energy needs, while aiding local economic development.

“We are on the right track,” Crespo said, pointing out that solar thermal energy would become essential when phasing out pollutant-conventional plants.

It was expected that solar thermal energy would account for about 11% of global electricity generation by 2050.

Spain had made much progress over the last few years, with an installed capacity of 2 300 MW from 50 solar plants.

“Supporting CSP was the right decision for Spain,” he said, pointing out that it had contributed to gross domestic product growth, avoided unemployment subsidies while boosting job creation and produced carbon emission savings.

While CSP would only become competitive in a few years’ time, first mover advantage would bode well for the forward-thinking companies and enable the provision of higher local content.

“There is much more to gain than lose for the country’s economy in the first years,” Crespo commented.

Eskom said it would absorb some CSP-generated energy to the national grid as part of its intention to set aside 10 000 MW for “green power” as it upgraded its transmission corridors.

PROJECTS UNDER WAY
South Africa had already gained some ground in deploying CSP technology through the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), with the country’s first commercial plant gearing up to launch shortly.

Spanish international engineering and technology company Abengoa’s 100 MW Kaxu Solar One parabolic-trough plant, near Pofadder, was 98.8% complete, with synchronisation expected next month – a few months ahead of schedule.

This project had created more than 1 400 jobs.

The group was also building the 50 MW Khi Solar One tower project, near Upington, which was now 92% complete.

The construction of Khi had seen the creation of 1 100 jobs during construction and the use of 160 000 t of steel and 1.2-million tons of concrete.

Meanwhile, Acwa Power expected to inject about R1.6-billion through the localisation of civil works, sourcing concrete and steel during the construction of the 50 MW Bokpoort CSP plant, in the Northern Cape, which had now reached the peak of its 30-month construction.

The project, which held a 20-year offtake with Eskom through the Garona substation, was now 60% complete and, despite being “slightly delayed” by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa-led strike in the metals and engineering sector earlier this year, the company averred that the project remained on track for completion on December 6, 2015.

The construction phase of the project had created 1 000 jobs, while 50 permanent employment opportunities were expected to be created during the operational life of the power facility, said Acwa power CEO Nandu Bhula, who added that in the !Kheis municipality alone, 391 jobs were created during August.

Acwa had also moved to establish several community initiatives, including the awarding of welding bursaries and training nearly 130 students in business and problem-solving skills.

The group had also started a topline water reticulation project that would provide 77 homes in the region with drinking water.

The latest CSP project, the Karoshoek Solar One 100 MW CSP parabolic trough project, which had emerged through the third-window bidding, was estimated to create about 1 500 jobs through the 30-month construction stage.

FG Emvelo, which was preparing to roll out the project, expected between 60 and 80 permanent operational jobs to be created at the facility, which would boast local content of nearly 50%, or R5-billion.

The company also committed R500-million a year over 20 years to the community trust to support development programmes and vowed to reinvest 1% of the plant’s revenue to communities within a 50 km radius for social development initiatives.