Kenhardt solar farms in South Africa comes on stream

The Kenhardt solar farms in South Africa have commenced operations. Scatec, a Norwegian independent power producer (IPP), along with its partner H1 Holdings announced electricity from the three plants is now being supplied to the country’s national grid.

The project aims to contribute to alleviating the country’s electricity crisis by focusing on renewable energies. The Kenhardt solar project involved the construction of three solar photovoltaic power plants covering an area of 879 hectares.

The plants are equipped with one million solar panels with a combined capacity of 540 MW. Additionally, the project includes energy storage with a capacity of 225 MW/1,140 MWh, utilizing 456 battery units.

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Kenhardt solar farms

The storage capacity of the plants allows for the supply of “150 MW of dispatchable energy from 5 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. all year round to the national grid.” The integration of solar and battery technologies enhances grid stability, overcoming intermittency issues associated with solar power generation.

The total investment in the Kenhardt solar project is reported to be US $1bn provided through loans by the Johannesburg-based Standard Bank Group and British International Investment (BII), the financial arm of British diplomacy.

Scatec injects the electricity produced into the grid of the South African state-owned utility Eskom under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA). The firm holds a 51% stake in the solar power plants, while the remaining 49% is owned by South Africa’s H1 Holdings. The project represents a significant step in the advancement of green energy generation in South Africa, aligning with the government’s focus on renewable energies.

The successful completion and operation of the Kenhardt solar project underscore the commitment to renewable energy development and the potential for solar power to play a crucial role in addressing energy challenges in South Africa.