Name and Location
Kalkbult solar photovoltaic project, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Client
Scatec Solar.

Project Description
The power plant will be located in Kalkbult, in the Northern Cape, which boasts some of the best conditions for solar power in the world.

The 75 MW project covers 105 ha, the size of about 140 football fields. The plant will produce more than 135-million kilowatt-hours a year, enough to cater for the electricity demand of 33 000 South African households.

The power will be fed into the local grid network and sold through a 20-year power purchase agreement with Eskom.

The project was selected as a preferred bidder during the first round of the Department of Energy’s independent power producer programme.

Value
The capital investment for the project is about €200-million and will be financed through Standard Bank.

Duration
The project is scheduled for completion in January 2014.

Latest Developments
Scatec Solar formally launched its 75 MW solar farm on November 12.

Construction of the project, which was fully commissioned in ten months by September – three months ahead of schedule – started in November 2012.

The Kalkbult facility comprises 312 000 solar panels mounted on 156 km of substructure linked to inverters, transformers and a high-voltage substation.

Equity for the project was provided by Scatec Solar, Norwegian investment fund provider Norfund, finance company Simacel, financial services provider Stanlib and insurance provider Old Mutual.

During construction, the solar project employed about 600 people, 16% of whom were women.  “The number of people employed during operations and maintenance will be between 10 and 15 people, but this phase will be accompanied by a 20-year collaboration with local communities and the development of social and economic initiatives focused on areas such as education and health,” Scatec Solar chairperson and founder Dr Alf Bjorseth has said.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Norfund, Stanlib, Old Mutual and Simacel (finance), and Kentz (engineering, procurement and construction).

On Budget and on Time?
The project was completed three months ahead of schedule.

Contact Details for Project Information
Scatec Solar VP communications, Sven Rost,  tel +47 932 53 196 sven.rost@scatec.no.
Standard Bank, tel +27 11 299 4701 or mail information@standardbank.co.za.
Simacel, tel +318 795 4591 or email info@simacel.com.
Old Mutual, Suzanne van Schoor, tel +27 21 504 4390 or Lisette Lombard, tel +27 21 509 3318.
Kentz, Paul Youens, tel +44 20 3159 4000.