The Boikanyo Solar power plant in South Africa has officially commenced commercial operations. Nomzamo Landingwe, Chief Community Operations Officer for Boikanyo Solar announced the start of operations followed attaining grid code compliance.
The energy project is part of a portfolio of six project owned by the same shareholders under the REIPPPP Window 4, and is the last of the six to come online. The shareholders include; African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM, a member of Old Mutual Alternative Investments) through its IDEAS Fund, Reatile Solar Power (RF) (Pty) Ltd, Phakwe Solar (RF) (Pty) Ltd, AREP (African Rainbow Energy and Power) and Cicada Community Trust.
Also Read:De Wildt solar power plant in South Africa enters commercial operation
Boikanyo Solar power plant
Boikanyo Solar power plant consists of 184,000 solar panels capable of delivering 50 MWp of power, with an annual production capacity of 152 GWh. This power is fed into the grid of the state-owned company Eskom. The consortium was awarded the concession under the 4th round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPP).
The solar plant is located on 168 hectares of low-value agricultural land and is connected to the nearby 132 kV Siyancuma substation. Over its 20-year operations period, the project will continue to ensure community participatory in the design and implementation of Socio-economic and Enterprise Development initiatives. These plans are designed to improve economic and social resilience and expand access to the local economy.
“This project, which took just a year to construct, will now produce enough clean energy to power some 62 000 South African homes each year, thereby helping to improve the country’s security of supply,” said Nomzamo Landingwe.
80
