Kruisvallei hydro project comes on line

4th March 2021

By: Marleny Arnoldi

Deputy Editor Online

     

Font size: - +

Power project developer Red Rocket has announced the start of commercial operations at the 4 MW Kruisvallei hydropower plant, along the Ash river between Clarens and Bethlehem, in the Free State.

The completion of the plant comes almost two years since construction began on March 26, 2019.

Kruisvallei was the third hydropower project to be procured under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and was awarded under Bid Window 4.

Uniquely, the plant is split into two run-of-river hydropower plants that combine to supply 4 MW of hydroelectric power through two turbines that will generate about 24 GWh/y.

The Ash river flows vary from about 15 m3/s to 40 m3/s depending on the release schedule from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

It is estimated that about one-billion cubic metres of water will flow through each turbine every year.

Red Rocket undertook the engineering, procurement and construction of the plant, while Red Rocket Asset Management will be responsible for operations and management.

This is the first project within Red Rocket’s greater portfolio which was undertaken using the group’s fully-integrated business model.

Red Rocket will therefore participate in the full lifecycle of the project from development, design and construction to operation and maintenance.

“Building and operating a project of this nature closes the first of many circles for us as a fully-integrated IPP and we celebrate the completion of Kruisvallei, as an example of our capabilities and what we can bring to the market in the future,” says CEO Matteo Brambilla.

The total project investment was about R370-million, of which R235-million was provided by a specialised debt fund called Facility for Investments in Renewable Small Transactions, which was established to provide simple, accessible and efficient funding for renewable energy projects in South Africa.

H1 Holdings, which participates as a 46.5% shareholder through the project company, namely Zevobuzz, also sees a growth in its portfolio through the completion of this project; making the project an authentic vehicle for empowerment through the power sector in South Africa.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

The functionality you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION