South Africa: Scatec Connects 86MW Solar PV Project

  • Independent solar power producer Scatec Solar and partners have grid-connected and reached commercial operation for 86MW of the 258MW solar power complex in Upington, South Africa.
  • The 86MW facility, known as Sirius, is expected to produce 217GWh and will lead to the abatement of more than 180,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

“We are pleased to reach another milestone with the grid connection of our fourth solar power plant in South Africa, with a combined capacity of 276MW,” said Raymond Carlsen, CEO of Scatec Solar.

Carlsen continued: “South Africa continues to be a very important market for Scatec Solar, and we are developing several interesting project opportunities both within the utility-scale segment as well as our container-based solar solution [known as]‘Release’.

The three projects in Upington were awarded in April 2015 in the fourth bidding round under the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPP).

Scatec Solar owns 42%, Norfund holds 18%, and the surrounding Community of Upington 5%, and H1 Holdings, a South African Black investor, holds the remaining 35% of the equity.

The two remaining solar plants totalling 172MW are expected to reach commercial operation within the next few months

Author: Babalwa Bungane

This article was originally published on ESI Africa and is republished with permission with minor editorial changes.

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