Kathu Solar Park

Last updated
Kathu Solar Park
Kathu Solar Park
Country South Africa
Location Kathu, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality
Coordinates 27°36′49″S23°02′33″E / 27.6135°S 23.0426°E / -27.6135; 23.0426
StatusOperational
Construction beganMay 2016
Commission date 30 January 2019
Solar farm
Type CSP
CSP technologyParabolic Reflectors
Site area800 hectares (1,977 acres)
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 100 MW
Capacity factor 44.5%
Annual net output 390 GWh (expected)
Storage capacity 450 MW·he
External links
Website kathu solar park

Kathu Solar Park is a concentrated solar power (CSP) thermal energy power plant, located near Kathu in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. [1]

It has a capacity of 100.0  megawatts (MW), and full-load molten storage capacity of 4.5 hours. It covers an area of approximately 800 hectares (1,977 acres).

The project shareholders, led by Engie include the Public Investment Corporation, SIOC Community Development Trust, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Investec, Lereko Metier and the Kathu Trust. The plant was constructed by the consortium formed by Acciona and SENER, acting as Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) provider. [2]

The plant began commercial operations in January 2019, [3] and currently supplies power for an estimated 179,000 households in South Africa.

See also

References

  1. "Construction starts on 100 MW Kathu Solar Park". engineeringnews.co.za. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  2. "Kathu Solar Park". kathusolarpark.co.za. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  3. "ENGIE starts operations of Kathu". engie.com. Retrieved 26 January 2022.