Scatec completes South African solar PV plant project

The project has been the first under South Africa’s renewable energy programme for private producers.

Scatec Solar was one of 28 independent power producers that signed contracts with the South African government late last year for a programme that will see an initial 1,400MW of renewable energy being added to South Africa’s energy mix.

The department of energy has plans to bring 17,800MW from renewable sources online by 2030.

Scatec Solar has been awarded three projects with total capacity of 190MW under the government’s programme. Construction of its next two projects, located in the Northern and Eastern Cape, have started already and completion will be expected by the middle of next year.

The completed Kalkbult plant consists of more than 312,000 solar panels mounted on 156km of sub-structure, inverters, transformers and a sub-station.

Kalkbult’s electricity will be sold to state company Eskom through a 20-year purchase agreement.

Scatec Solar CEO Raymond Carlsen said, “The South African authorities are committed to implementing an ambitious renewable energy programme, and we find great satisfaction in being able to contribute to its success through our own projects, which we have actively been developing in South Africa over the last four years.”