Scatec completes 40-MW solar farm in South Africa

Jul 7, 2014 - Norwegian solar power producer Scatec Solar has put into commercial operation its 40-MW Linde photovoltaic (PV) park in South Africa, the company said in a statement today.

The solar plant, located in the Northern Cape region, cost some ZAR 1.1 billion (USD 102m/EUR 75m), invested by a consortium comprising Scatec, as the majority holder, Norway's Norfund and South Africa's Standard Bank (JSE:SBK), Old Mutual Life Assurance and Simacel. The financing was extended by Standard Bank.

The Linde PV farm was completed as part of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP). It has the capacity to generate some 94 million kWh of electricity a year which would be enough to meet the power needs of some 20,000 homes. Local utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd will be buying the output under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

The facility uses a single axis solar tracker system instead of fixed tilt solution in order to improve its production volumes by about 20%, Scatec noted.

The Norwegian company already has one South African solar project completed, namely the 75-MW Kalkbult plant. Both schemes were developed through the firm’s local joint venture Scatec Solar SA.

(ZAR 10 = USD 0.926/EUR 0.681)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!