Name of the Project
South Deep solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant.

Location
Westonaria, in western Gauteng, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Gold Fields.

Project Description
The capacity of miner Gold Fields’ initially proposed 40 MW solar power plant at its South Deep gold mine has increased to 50 MW, following the announcement by government in June 2021 that allowed for increasing the embedded generation threshold to 100 MW, and a further optimisation study.  

The plant will comprise one hundred 980 × 550 W solar PV panels and cover 105 ha on mine property.

Once operational, the project will represent 24% of South Deep’s yearly electricity consumption. At night, the operation will default to the national electricity grid.

The operation could reduce carbon emissions by more than 110 000 t/y of carbon dioxide and save the company more than R123-million a year in electricity costs.

Potential Job Creation
Gold Fields expects to create about 240 jobs during the construction of the plant, while about 12 people will be required to operate the plant once it is operational.

Capital Expenditure
The solar plant will be built and operated by South Deep at an estimated capital investment of R715-million.

Planned Start/End Date
The project was granted a licence by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa on February 25, 2021.

Gold Fields’ board of directors approved the project for construction in May 2021. Construction started in the third quarter of 2021 and the plant will be fully commissioned during the third quarter of 2022.

Latest Developments
The South African government announced an increase in the embedded generation threshold to 100 MW in June 2021. Following the announcement, South Deep undertook a further optimisation study, indicating that upgrading the solar plant by an additional 10 MW will unlock maximum value within the mine’s ability to use additional power.

This will allow for future expansion to 60 MW within the existing environmental authorisation.

The design of the solar plant has been revised, taking into account maximum output and future upgrades.

Construction continues and the South Deep solar plant will be fully commissioned during the third quarter of 2022.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Gold Fields, tel +27 11 411 1000.