Name and Location
De Aar photovoltaic (PV) solar plant project, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Client
The project is owned by a consortium, comprising Globeleq, Mainstream Renewable Power, Thebe Investment Corporation, The Rebuna Litsatsi Trust, Enzani Technologies and Usizo Engineering.

Project Description
The De Aar PV project is located outside De Aar on land owned by the Emthanjeni municipality, in the Northern Cape.

The project will cover an estimated 100 ha and will generate about 50 MW of clean renewable energy.

The facility will convert the sun’s energy into electricity using 167 580 PV panels and the electricity will be fed directly into the Eskom 132 kV distribution system. The plant will produce an estimated 85 458 MWh/y, enought to power about 21 200 houses a year.

The project will avoid carbon emissions of 82 040 t/y and save 162-million litres of water.

Value
R1.5-billion.

Duration
The facility is expected to begin operating in mid-2014.

Latest Developments
Solar Capital is working on a second project and aims to bid additional solar capacity when the next round of bidding under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme closes in May 2013.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Siemens Southern Africa (engineering, procurement and construction contract).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
Globeleq, tel +44 20 7 234 5400, fax +44 20 7 234 5486 or email info@globeleq.com.
Siemens Southern Africa media relations, Hulisani Nemaxwi, tel + 27 11 652 267 or email hulisani.nemaxwi@siemens.com.
Mainstream Renewable Power South Africa project manager Savva Antonaidis, tel +27 21 657 4040, fax +27 21 671 5665 or email savaa.antoniadis@mainstreamrp.com.
Thebe Investment Corporation, tel +27 11 447 7800, fax +27 11 447 5502 or email info@thebe.co.za.
Enzani Technologies, tel +27 11 835 1880, fax +27 11 835 1885 or email info@enzani.co.za.
Usizo Engineering, tel +27 11 609 7560 or fax +27 11 609-7518.