As featured on Alternative Energy Africa in mid-September, South Africa is preparing to construct a 5-GW solar power plant in the Northern Cape. Fluor South Africa, a division of Texas-based Fluor Corp., is developing the conceptual master plan for the project following the completion of a prefeasibility study conducted in 2010.
State-owned utility Eskom is planning to supply the project with the 400 kV infrastructure by 2012 to provide transmission for 1,500 MW of power, according to research firm Industrial Info Resources. However, project specifics will not be released until the publication of the master plan although Eskom has said that all EIA requirements could take up to seven years. Eskom plans to build transformers by 2014 and two further 400 kV lines by 2016.
The first 1,500 MW of the project could be complete by 2017.
Alternative Energy Africa is trying to reduce its own carbon footprint in 2011. Ask about our electronic subscriptions and online marketing campaigns specially tailored for individual companies.