Norway-based energy provider Scatec Solar has grid-connected its 75 MW Kalkbult solar photovoltaic plant in South Africa's Northern Cape province. The company says the project is the first to be connected under the country's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP).
Scatec Solar was awarded the Kalkbult project under the first round of the REIPPPP. The completed plant consists of more than 312,000 solar panels and is expected to produce 135 million kWh of electricity annually. The power from the PV plant will be sold through a 20-year power purchase agreement with Eskom, the national utility company.
‘I am very proud of our staff and contractors who have been able to complete this substantial project three months ahead of schedule, demonstrating how swiftly utility-scale solar energy plants could be built and put in operation,’ says Scatec Solar CEOÂ Raymond Carlsen. ‘South African authorities are committed to implementing an ambitious renewable energy program, and we find great satisfaction in being able to contribute to its success through our own projects which we have actively been developing in South Africa over the last four years.’
The capital investment for the project is financed through South Africa-based Standard Bank. The consortium providing the equity finance consists of Scatec Solar as the largest owner, Norfund, Simacel, Stanlib/Standard Bank and Old Mutual Life Assurance Co.
