In South Africa, the 50 MW Bokpoort concentrated solar plant (CSP) has been commissioned. Developed by Saudi Acwa Power, its construction of the infrastructure started in 2013 and cost $328 million. The plant can power 200,000 households in average.

The plant has a thermal storage capacity of 9 hours, allowing it to provide energy over this period after sunset. The technology used to achieve this consists in heating a heat-carrier fluid which allows energy production. Additional production hours are obtained by storing the fluid in a reservoir.

“It is aimed at providing energy security and diversified energy. It instils confidence that major green projects are going to be built in South Africa,” said the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) deputy director general Yunus Hoosen.

The plant has been developed as part of South Africa’s Renewable Energy IPP procurement program (REIPPP). Since the launching of its first phase in 2012, construction of about 66 renewable energy plants was launched, some of which, like the Bokpoort plant, are already operational.

Gwladys Johnson