Name of the Project
Tubatse ferrochrome smelter solar plant and battery energy storage system.

Location
On portions of the farm Goudmyn 337KT, within the Fetakgomo local municipality of the Sekhukhune district municipality, in Limpopo, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Samancor Chrome.

Project Description
The project involves the construction of a minimum 60-MWp-capacity solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. According to heritage-impact assessment on the proposed plant, released in
May 2021, the plant will include:

• solar PV panels that can deliver up to 60 MWp to the Samancor grid;

• inverters that will convert direct current generated by the PV modules into alternating current, to be exported to the electrical grid;

• transformer/s that raise the system alternating current low-voltage to medium voltage for delivery to State-owned power utility Eskom; and

• instrumentation and control comprising hardware and software for remote plant monitoring and operation of the facility.

The project will also include:

• mounting structures for the solar panels in a fixed tilt of rotating tracking configuration;

• cabling between the structures, to be lain underground where practical;

• new 33 kV overhead power lines between the various sites and the Tubatse East and West substation buildings;

• a local substation and transformer yard at each PV site;

• a containerised switchgear substation at the Tubatse East and West MV substations to connect to the Tubatse substation busbars;

• water provision infrastructure for PV panel cleaning;

• a battery energy storage system;

• internal access roads – 4 m to 6 m wide, using existing roads as far as possible – and fencing, gates and access control.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Not stated.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Not stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
PGS Heritage, appointed by Royal Haskoning DHV (heritage-impact assessment).

Contact Details for Project Information
Samancor Chrome, tel +27 11 245 1000.