Name and Location
Mulilo Sonnedix Prieska photovoltaic solar plant project, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Client
Sonnedix has undertaken the project with Mulilo, a major South African renewable energy developer, as a minority partner.

Project Description
The project involves the construction of an 86 MW wind farm near Douglas, in the Northern Cape, under the third window of the South African Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.

The plant technology uses single-axis trackers to position high-efficiency solar panels to face the sun throughout the day, increasing energy capture by up to 25%, compared with fixed-tilt solar technology.

The project will sell the electricity it produces to State-owned power utility Eskom under a power purchase agreement.

Value
The project represents an investment of more than R1.2-billion.

Financial close on the project was achieved in December 2014.

Duration
The power plant is expected to be fully operational in 2016.

Latest Developments
SunPower started construction of the solar power plant in April. The US solar developer is installing its SunPower Oasis power plant technology at the Prieska site. The technology uses single-axis trackers to position the SunPower panels to face the sun throughout the day, increasing energy capture by up to 25% over fixed-tilt solar technology, according to the company.

SunPower secured the project under a project development agreement with South African Mulilo Solar Enterprises and Total, SunPower's majority shareholder.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
juwi (engineering, procurement and construction, and operations and maintenance services) and SunPower (monocrystalline modules).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Sonnedix, email enquiries@sonnedix.com.
juwi group press officer Felix Wächter, tel +49 6732 96 57-1244 or email waechter@juwi.de.