Heat tracing specialist eltherm South Africa (SA) has been awarded the contract to design and install a heat tracing system for the Xina Solar One power plant, near Pofadder, in the Northern Cape.
The contract, awarded to eltherm SA by Spanish multinational corporation Abengoa, was the company’s first major project since the company’s establishment in South Africa last year. The company is a subsidiary of Germany-headquartered eltherm.
Kilometres of mineral-insulated heating cable would be used for the heat tracing system. These cables would feature laser welded termination points that prevented water ingress, avoiding any moisture issues that might arise.
The heat tracing system would be managed by eltherm’s customised TraceVision software and controllers that enabled efficient and uninterrupted operation.
Installation of the heat tracing system at the Xina Solar One project was scheduled to start this month and would take six to eight months to complete.
“We’re extremely excited to form part of this significant solar plant project which sets the tone for our growth trajectory in the local concentrated solar power market,” said eltherm GM Giles Maynard.
The 100 MW Xina Solar One plant’s parabolic trough technology would provide a five-hour thermal energy storage capacity using molten salts, which would assist in meeting peak demand after sunset.
The heat tracing system formed an integral part in storing and harnessing solar energy.