When it comes to Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), SENER prides itself as a world leader in innovative and sustainable solutions for clean energy. This year has seen us achieve some of our most outstanding milestones since the start of operations in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province.
SENER reached a critical milestone in the construction project of the Kathu Solar Park, where synchronisation was successfully achieved in November 2018. This means that we are now connected to the grid and are generating electricity but for purpose of testing and ensuring that the plant can supply electricity to the national grid.
Synchronisation to the grid is one of the last steps before the plant starts commercial operation reassuring CSP as an efficient solution in the renewable energy sector with its high efficiency and performance to deliver energy to the South African grid during the evening peak.
Once fully operational, the plant will provide clean and reliable energy to the local community of the John Taole Gaetsewe District Municipality, in the Northern Cape Province.
SENER is also proud of the progress at the Ilanga1 Plant, that is the first and only CSP project that was conceived and developed by a 100% black owned South African developer. The Operations & Maintenance training provided by the Ilanga CSP1 partners is a first in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) and is in line with government’s four accords, emanating from the New Growth Path (NGP); namely basic education, skills development, local procurement and the green economy.
Our professional team in the country is currently finishing the commissioning tests for the solar plant, which is made up of 266 loops, conforming 870,000 mirror sqm approximately.
The Northern Cape MEC for Economic Development MacCollen Jack pointed out that the province is host to 51 of the country’s 102 Independent Power Producers with more than 19 projects already connected to the grid at a capacity of more than 900MW, has identified all renewable energy technologies including CSP as key in unlocking job opportunities for our youth, women and the transformation of our economy.
