Electricity and Control August 2024

ENERGY MANAGEMENT + THE INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT : PROJECTS

Breaking ground on SunCentral

Independent power producer, SolarAfrica Energy has of ficially broken ground on its first utility-scale solar farm, known as SunCentral, in De Aar in the Northern Cape. Phase 1 of this project will establish around 342 MW in generation capacity. Phases 2 and 3 will take total gen eration capacity to 1 GW – making this one of the largest projects of its kind in the country. A project of partnerships During the breaking ground ceremony, David McDonald, CEO of SolarAfrica Energy, outlined the significance and strength of the partnerships behind SunCentral – a key driver for its success. “A project of this magnitude would not have been possible without the power of partnerships. Over the past decade, Eskom has found new ways of making wheel ing a reality in South Africa. Its dedication to partnering with the private sector demonstrates its commitment to addressing South Africa’s power generation struggles,” McDonald said. The event was also attended by representatives of Emthanjeni Municipality and Business Chamber, and McDonald acknowledged the importance of fostering positive relationships within the community. Mayor Lulamile Nkumbi expressed the municipality’s support for the project and emphasised the importance of maintaining open and transparent communication between all stakeholders. Special mention was made of Soventix South Africa, the company that originally developed the project for submission in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. Soventix sold the rights to Phase 1 of the cluster development to SolarAfrica and will continue to develop Phases 2 and 3 for the project as time progresses. Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) firms Proconics and Sinohydro will be key to the project’s success. Proconics will install SunCentral’s Main Transmission Substation (MTS) and Sinohydro will be responsible for the installation of more than 500 000 solar panels. Infrastructure investments Phase 1 of the project represents an investment of just under R5 billion. The MTS, with a total cost of around R1 billion, is funded by SolarAfrica and will play a piv otal role in ensuring the power produced on site can be evacuated into the national transmission grid. The solar installation carries a cost of around R4 billion. This is an indication of the significant contribution SunCentral will make to the country’s power infrastructure. “Investments of this nature go a long way in bolstering the grid’s abil ity to manage and distribute power across the country,” McDonald said. As part of the greater Starsight Energy Group, Solar Africa’s SunCentral project will also serve as a blueprint

for the adoption of wheeling projects in East and West Africa, with a specific focus on Kenya and Nigeria. Construction has officially begun on Phase 1 of SunCentral, the start of build out in this R5 billion investment. Power for good A project of this scale has an impact at local and national levels. Located between Hanover and De Aar, SunCentral brings with it several corporate social responsibility projects that will be implemented in collaboration with local members and leaders to support an improved quality of life among the surrounding communities. □

AUGUST 2024 Electricity + Control

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