Sener and Acciona Industrial say that they have connected the Kathu concentrated solar power (CSP) plant to the South African grid.
The two Spanish companies have announced that the 100 MW plant was connected to Eskom’s 132 kV distribution grid on 23 February 2018, and that main and auxiliary transformers have been energised.
The Kathu solar park is a parabolic trough plant equipped with a molten salt thermal storage system sufficient to extend the operation of the plant by 4.5 hours after sunset. It is being built by Sener and Acciona under an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract awarded by an Engie-led consortium.
Construction started in May 2016 and the plant will be completed in late 2018, Sener said.
The plant was awarded a licence in the third round of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme.
