News November 15th 2013

November 15th, 2013 : Scatec Solar grid-connects 
South Africa’s first renewable IPP project

Scatec Solar had its 75 MW solar PV plant, Kalkbult, in the Northern Cape region connected to the regional grid making the power plant the first REIPPPP project to be grid connected and operational in South Africa. Immediately after the financial close was reached in November last year, the company commenced construction of the plant which consists of more than 312 000 solar panels mounted on 156 km of substructure, inverters, transformers and a HV sub-station. The power from the now grid-connected PV plant will be sold through a 20 year Power Purchase Agreement with Eskom, the national utility company.

The Kalkbult plant is located in the sun drenched Northern Cape region with ideal conditions for solar power. Combined annual production will be in excess of 135 million kWh per year, enough to cover the electricity demand of 33 000 South African households. Harvesting solar power from this plant represents CO2 abatements of almost 115 000 tons per year.

The capital investment for the project is financed through South Africa’s largest commercial bank, Standard Bank. The consortium providing the equity finance consists of Scatec Solar as the largest owner, Norfund, Simacel, Stanlib/Standard Bank, and Old Mutual Life Assurance Company.

VERD Q.I. has participated as the Technical Adviser of the equity partners and has advised them on the structuring of the EPC and O&M agreements and the execution of the project with Scatec Solar.


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