In South Africa, Italian solar plant developer Enel Green Power (EGP) has commissioned the Paleisheuwel photovoltaic power plant. The infrastructure which is located in the Western Cape Province is presently the biggest of the kind in the country according to EGP.

With a capacity of 82.5 MW, the plant will generate enough electricity to support 48,000 South African households while preventing the emission of 140,000 tons of CO2 per year. The power will be sold to the national power utility in accordance to a 20-year power purchase agreement.

The plant was built in the framework of the renewable energy independent power producer procurement programme (REIPPPP) implemented by the South African government and which should allow for the development of 13 GW of renewable power-producing plants.

As part of this programme, EGP was trusted with the development of wind stations totaling a capacity of 705 MW.

Gwladys Johnson