SENER, as part of the consortium for the turnkey construction of the 100-MW Kathu Solar Park Complex, has been judged as having delivered “The Deal of the Year” at the fourth edition of the African Utility Week Power Awards.
Finalists, besides Kathu, were Innovative Solar Systems, Lumos Global, Nigeria; Lubilia Kawembe Hydro Ltd, FMO, Netherlands; Senergy 2 solar PV plant, GreenWish Partners, Senegal; and ZESCO New Electricity Connections, Standard Chartered Bank/USAID, Zambia.
Not only did SENER deliver “The Deal of the Year” for the Kathu Solar Park Complex, but it was also awarded “Large Scale Renewable Energy Project” for the Bokpoort CSP Power Plant, ACWA Power, South Africa.
The Kathu Solar Park Complex won against other finalist projects that including Ethiopia’s Gilgel Gibe III, Morocco’s NOORo, Senegal’s Senergy 2 solar PV plant and South Africa’s Solar Capital De Aar 3 PV project.
SENER was part of the consortium that will be providing the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the power plant at Kathu Solar Park. This is a concentrated solar power (CSP) project that includes the second-generation SENERtrough2® parabolic trough technology, specifically designed and patented by SENER.
“We are proud of these awards, which are a testament to the skills that have been brought to the project by the consortiums for both the Kath Solar park and the Bokpoort concentrated solar plant,” says Siyabonga Mbanjwa, Southern Africa Regional MD. “Kathu is equipped with a molten salt heat storage system that allows it to supply thermal power for 4.5 hours, thus extending its operational capacity even after sundown. Kathu will supply enough power to meet the electricity demand of 150,000 homes.”
Construction on the unit began in May 2016, and it is expected to be completed in Q2 2018. The Kathu Solar Park is expected to save six million tons of CO2 over 20 years, and it will foster more local economic development through several projects. These include a fund for the local community that will benefit the area around the municipality of John Taolo Gaetsewe in Northern Cape, in addition to subcontracting other services to local businesses.