Name and Location
Konkoonsies solar photovoltaic (PV) energy facility, 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 Konkoonsies solar energy facility will be built on 30 ha, located about 32 km north-east of Pofadder, in the Northern Cape.
The facility will include 45 000 solar PV 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 facility will produce about 21 000 MWh/y of electricity, enough to power 6 000 South African homes.
The project was one of 28 renewable-energy projects identified as preferred bidders under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) in November 2011.
Value
Not stated.
Duration
Not stated.
Latest Developments
The Konkoonsies solar PV energy facility reached commercial operation in December 2013, delivering a combined 10 MW of electricity to the national grid.
The project, which was selected in the first round of the REIPPPP in November 2011 and successfully reached financial close in November 2012, will supply power to the national grid for the next 20 years through a power purchase agreement secured with State-owned power utility Eskom’s single buyer office.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
BYD (solar panels), Nedbank and the Industrial Development Corporation (lenders), juwi Solar (construction) and Schletter South Africa (solar mounting framework and mechanical installation).
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.
Schletter South Africa, tel +27 11 022 9711 or fax +27 87 782 0909.