Name and Location
Scatec Solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, South Africa.
Client
Scatec Solar, through its joint venture company, Scatec Solar South Africa.
Project Description
The two PV projects will be located at Linde, in the Northern Cape, and Dreunberg, in the Eastern Cape, and will generate a combined 115 MW.
Both regions boast some of the best conditions for solar power in the world.
Combined production will be more than of 225-million kilowatt hours a year, enough to meet the electricity demand of 53 000 South African households.
The power will be fed into the local grid and sold through a 20-year power purchase agreement with State-owned power company Eskom.
The plants represent carbon dioxide abatements of almost 190 000 t/y.
The projects were selected under the second round of the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
Value
Capital investment for the two projects is about €300-million and will be financed through Standard Bank.
The consortium providing the equity finance consists of Scatec Solar, Standard Bank, Old Mutual Life Assurance Company, Norfund and Simacel.
Duration
The plants are scheduled for completion in mid-2014.
Latest Developments
Commercial operations have started at Scatec’s Linde solar PV project in the Northern Cape.
The project is the Norwegian group’s second utility-scale solar PV plant completed under the DoE’s REIPPPP and has increased the group’s national installed base to 115 MW. The project is also the company’s first installation of a solar tracker system, which should increase the plant’s output considerably. Solar trackers collect solar energy for the longest period possible by aligning the panels to the shifting position of the sun.
Linde incorporates zero-tilt single-axis trackers and 138 000 polycrystalline panels supplied by Jinko Solar. It is expected to produce 94 000 MWh/y of electricity, which will be bought by Eskom, in line with a 20-year power purchase agreement.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
Raubex Infra (civils and electrical work) and Jinko Solar (polycrystalline panels).
On Budget and on Time?
The Linde project was completed on time and within budget.
Contact Details for Project Information
Scatec Solar South Africa project development, Jed Borrill, tel +27 11 784 2777 or email jed.borrill@scatecsolar.com.
Raubex Infra, Dirk Lourens, tel +27 51 406 2000 or email dirk.l@raubex.com.