The Department of Energy (DoE) in South Africa has named two additional solar power projects to help improve on the concentration of solar power capacity in the country.
The Kathu Solar Park, expected to have a capacity of 100MW and the 100MW Redstone Solar Thermal Power Project, will add to the other five active CSP projects that are being pursued by Independent Power Producers in the Northern Cape Province.
The 100MW Redstone Solar Thermal Power Project located in Postmasburg will be developed by companies led by Solar Reserve from the US and the Saudi Arabian company ACWA Power.
This project will include tower configuration and a molten- salt energy storage technology which will allow 12hours of full load energy storage. It is schedule to start operations early 2018.
On the other hand, Kathu Solar Park will be developed by Lereko Metier, Public Investment Corporation (PIC), Investec Bank and Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust. These companies will be led by GDF SUEZ.
Kathu Solar Park will incorporate a parabolic trough technology and a molten-salt storage system that will make it possible to store 4.5 hours thermal energy.
The addition of storage space to the projects will enable the dispatchment of power easily. The country has been grappling with persistent load shedding that has affected businesses and has initiated a number of projects that seek to alleviate the problem.
