Powerchina said South Africa's 100 MW Redstone CSP plant has achieved grid connection. The project will supply 480 GWh of clean energy per year to South African utility Eskom under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA).
“The project utilizes advanced molten salt storage technology in a tower configuration and is equipped with 41,260 heliostats that precisely reflect sunlight onto the solar tower's heat receiver,” the company said. “The stored molten salt allows for 12 hours of full-load operation, ensuring continuous electricity generation, even after sunset.”
The Redstone project, located in Siyanda district, is the first molten salt solar thermal tower plant in sub-Saharan Africa. PowerChina said it is the largest investment project in South Africa's Northern Cape province.
Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power owns 49% of the facility and is the largest shareholder. The project, selected under South Africa's REIPP program, required a $724 million investment.
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Where on earth is Siyanda district? Please name a nearby town like Upington. Also, IF this is the facility near Upington, please provide background why it was only now connected to the grid when it was completed several years ago?
It’s about 30km from Postmasburg towards Kimberley. I think they completed it in something like 4 years. It’s very impressive if I may say so myself.
That is what I also want to know Johan!
Hi Johan, it is near the town of Postmasburg. The project was recently built and completed, not several years ago.
Siyanda district has been renamed in 2013 to ZF Mgcawu District Municipality. The new plant refered to in this article is at Postmasburg/Danielskuil area. There is a CSP plant in operation for a couple of years at Upington. This Redstone CSP is the second CSP in the Northern Cape.
In Keimoes about 40 km from Upington is a Salt tower build about 5 years ago.The electricity generated by this tower goes in to the ground because the Eskom power line cannot carry the load.
35km outside postmansburg on the barkley west/ kimberley road
This is absolutely incorrect. We see this giant tower nearby postmasburg in Northern Cape on our way to Kimberly.
It is located here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/dGVX1KtvKma37P6H7
Directions from Uppington:
Shared route
From Upington to Khi Solar One via N14.
33 min (34 km)
33 min in current traffic
1. Head northeast on Dr Nelson Mandela Dr/N10 toward Swartmodder St/R360
2. At the roundabout, take the 4th exit and stay on Dr Nelson Mandela Dr/N10
3. Turn right
4. Turn left
5. Arrive at location: Khi Solar One
For the best route in current traffic visit https://maps.app.goo.gl/z5ViXs3rR4ke3Hu17?g_st=ac
Believe it or not when we pass, in fact I stopped there early this year I immediately got that urged to study as I come from a Process background.(pensioner) Very impressive as the Tower stands out for about 29-30 (eye view) km as you approache Danielskuil. That also maybe the reason why electricity tariffs has nou ceiling somehow it needs to payed.
Isn’t it also named Kanoneiland, it’s very secure though, nobody can enter
This is the 2nd solar plant of this type in SA. There is Khi Solar One that you may see when driving just out west of Upington. This one is a newly commissioned solar power plant that uses the same technology, and seems to be around Postmansburg.