Solar plant to be built in South Africa's Northern Cape

31 March 2011

South African construction company Group Five will develop a solar plant that will supply energy to the power utility firm Eskom.

The price of the project will come in at five billion South African rand (£455,000) and the location would start developing energy in two years' time, Reuters reports.

Greg Heale, director of engineering and construction at Group Five, said at an African refinery conference that "we hope to be producing power in 2013".

It will be stationed in the sun-drenched Northern Cape region and it could eventually be further developed to produce up to 450 MW.

The country is moving away from the current reliance it has on fossil fuels and there are also plans for a solar park - that will supply 5,000 MW - to be opened by 2012.

Last week, it was revealed the African Development Bank is to provide South Africa with funding for wind and solar projects.
 

Category: Energy