South Africa has a fleet of coal power stations fast approaching end of life status. However, it does have a risk-mitigation independent power producer procurement program aimed at bridging the gap. Part of this involves enriching lives in a small South African town with 540 MW solar panels. We take up the story here.
The Small South African Town With 540 MW Solar Panels
Kenhardt is a small town in South Africa’s Northern Province, with a 5,000-strong population. The region is dry and arid, with primarily very low shrubs and yellow grass among a rocky desert kind of landscape. During summer, birds flock to seasonal water pans if there is rain. Mean monthly sunshine hours range from 300 to 350 depending on season.
News 24 reports a very large solar array is rolling out there. In fact, it says it will be one of the world’s largest, with 2 million panels delivering 540 megawatts battery storage. It will be 6 miles wide when complete in 15 months’ time. Scandinavian developer Scantec has a 20-year contract to deliver energy to the national grid.
Kenhardt Strikes it Rich With Solar in a Semi-Desert
Kenhardt is set within in a wild open space of inestimable beauty, where a conventional power station would be a desecration of the stillness. Yet at the same time the region is desperately poor, not having benefited from South Africa’s mineral wealth. It is also one of the last refuges of the hunter-gathering Khoisan people.
The solar array will benefit from financial backing by Standard Bank Group as arranger, and British International Investment. “This is an important milestone in the procurement of renewable energy,” explains Jan Fourie, Scantec General Manager of Sub-Saharan Africa.
“It proves the solar energy sector can be relied upon to deliver much-needed electricity capacity to the grid.” To us, it also proves that solar battery storage has come of age. However, we believe it is just the beginning of a brighter, greener, energy future.
Breaking News
A Balance Between Batteries and Climate
2 Comments
Really, 969 BILLION dollars? I sure hope that’s a typo somebody missed!
Well spotted. Thank you Paul.