The 100 MW Kathu solar park in South Africa has been officially commissioned, Sener reports.
The concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Northern Cape province uses Sener’s parabolic trough collectors and a molten salt thermal storage system and started commercial operation at the end of January 2019.
It is part of the South African government’s Integrated Resource Programme (IRP) 2010, which aims to increase the country’s power generation capacity to 86.8 GW by 2030, including around 21 GW of renewables.
An Engie-led consortium won the license to build Kathu during bid window 3.5 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) by the South African Department of Energy (DoE). Sener and Acciona were appointed to build the facility, with construction starting in 2016.
Kathu is the second CSP plant jointly developed by Sener and Acciona in South Africa after the 50 MW Bokpoort plant, officially opened in late 2016.
