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Concentrated solar power could help ease electricity woes - Stellenbosch University

3/12/2019

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With more electricity disruptions likely to occur in the next few years as state utility Eskom struggles to meet demand, South Africa should look at concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies as an alternative when coal power stations fail, Stellenbosch University has said.

The university cited Dr Toyosi Craig, a project manager with AEE Power in Johannesburg who recently received his doctorate in industrial engineering at Stellenbosch, as saying mass deployments of CSP would not only provide clean and supporting energy to the grid, but also boost the local manufacturing of CSP components, support job creation and create an avenue to export electricity and know-how to neighbouring countries.

Craig said the future of CSP in South Africa looked bleak as the government’s recent Integrated Resource Plan updates gave no allocation to new CSP plants beyond 2030. 

“This is worrying given that South Africa wants to generate 42 percent of its electricity from renewable energy technology sources by 2030," he said.

He said if CSP was promoted, job losses due to the adoption of renewable energy would be reduced as experts from other conventional technologies could transfer their skills "with little or no training".

South African unions have slammed the government for signing deals with independent power producers on behalf of Eskom, saying these will threaten jobs in the coal sector, which still accounts for the bulk of the country's electricity.

“The cost of developing CSP is reducing, the technology is therefore going to be the major energy source of the future, and the nations who do not recognise these may lose out," Craig said.

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​He said despite the available amount of sunlight in South Africa, electricity generated from solar energy was only a small percentage of the overall energy mix.

“Given that Eskom is under pressure to provide electricity, the department of energy should let all renewable energy technologies compete fairly and justly (and) should also encourage the localisation of the CSP technology," he said.

He conceded however that despite its storage ability and capability to supply uninterrupted power for 24 hours, electricity from CSP was still more expensive than other renewal energy technologies.

Craig said even though the adoption of CSP technology had been slow in South Africa because of political interest and global trends, high capital cost and tariff and politicians’ lack of understanding of the values of CSP technology, the process could be accelerated through improved research, development and demonstration plants.

“Strategic policies, laws and the right funding for research can help South Africa to fully maximise its CSP resources potential to foster cost reduction and market viability of its solar innovations," he said.

African News Agency (ANA)       Source....
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New solar plants now powering whole of Northern Cape

8/29/2017

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With yet another renewable energy (RE) project completed on time and on budget, one has to wonder why the Departments of Energy (DoE) and Public Enterprises (DPE) tolerate Eskom’s continued refusal to sign additional power producer agreements. This especially since the latest REIPPP energy price bids that Eskom refuse to sign are so much lower than the first ones.

Abengoa, a Spanish renewable energy company, recently announced the completion of its latest concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, Xina Solar One (Xina). According to a representative from the company, the project supplies clean electricity to 95 000 South African households.

By means of Xina and two other plants the company built earlier, Kaxu Solar One and Khi Solar One, the company provides electricity to almost a million people in the Northern Cape, especially during the early evening peak, when this power is needed most.

Read more.......

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One million South Africans receiving power from world’s largest storage solar farm

12/17/2015

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More than 200‚000 homes in South Africa are receiving power from the world’s largest storage solar farm near Upington in the Northern Cape.Just two years after the start of construction‚ the ACWA Solafrica Bokpoort CSP Power Plant is now operating at full capacity‚ ahead of schedule.
Since inception‚ this R5bn foreign investment‚ led by developer‚ owner and operator ACWA Power‚ has created over 1‚200 jobs throughout the life of the development. The project is part of the SA Government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) programme.
“We are delighted to have achieved this milestone in such a short period‚” said Nandu Bhula‚ the CEO of Bokpoort CSP Plant. “Construction only began in June 2013 and for the plant to be supplying much needed power at full load in 30 months is a remarkable achievement.

Read more......


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What is the future of solar energy in Africa? - Free Webinar

11/19/2015

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WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF SOLAR ENERGY IN AFRICA? 

SolarReserve's senior management team will discuss the latest advancements in solar energy, and how solar can reliably and cost effectively provide baseload power 24/7 as well as power to meet peak demand periods, even after the sun has set.  REGISTER TODAY FOR THIS FREE WEBINAR. 

LEARN ABOUT:
SolarReserve's hybrid solar energy technology
How the technology fits the needs of certain markets
The development process
How it competes with traditional fuels
Economic benefits
Challenges and the future of solar energy in Africa
 
SPEAKERS: 
Bill Gould, CTO
 
Alistair Jessop, 
SVP, Development

Register here.......

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What if We Invert the Solar Thermal Tower Design?

11/7/2015

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The solar thermal tower that has received the most publicity both good and bad is the type that uses mirrors to focus a solar beam to a single point on the tower head behind which is a thermal engine to turn the heat into electricity.
In this video, the prototype solar tower works a little differently. While it still collects the solar rays to send to a single point, the target is located in the underside of the tower head where there are more mirrors that collect a tighter beam to focus down to the ground where the heat engine is located.
The advantage of this is that you are able transmit a lower energy density through the air to the tower head, which should result in a lot less bird deaths from them inadvertently flying into the beams. The 2nd advantage is that you can leave the heat engine on the ground level which means you do not have to carefully design to minimize its weight to go on the tower.
I wonder if we will see more of these soon?
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OPIC okays USD-400m financing for CSP project in S Africa

9/20/2015

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 The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has cleared new financing of up to USD 400 million (EUR 350.8m) for SolarReserve’s 100-MW Redstone concentrating solar power (CSP) project in South Africa.

California-based SolarReserve and Saudi co-sponsor and lead developer ACWA Power will use an OPIC investment guarantee to help build and operate the solar thermal power plant in South Africa’s Northern Cape province, an OPIC press release says.

At the start of the year, the South African Department of Energy (DOE) selected the Redstone project as part of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme’s (REIPPPP) third round. Redstone will use a tower configuration, similar to SolarReserve’s 110-MW Crescent Dunes solar thermal power plant in the US state of Nevada.

The up to USD 400 million in funds for the CSP project are part of more than USD 1 billion in financing and support for US-led developments in Africa and Asia OPIC announced on Thursday.

The total sum includes USD 250 million for power generation and infrastructure projects in OPIC-eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa and a further USD 250 million for a power grid upgrade in Pakistan.

Source.....

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South African team may have solved solar puzzle even Google couldn't crack

8/26/2015

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South African team may have solved solar puzzle even Google couldn't crack. It is a problem that has so far stumped even Google’s brainy engineers – how to generate cheap solar electricity using a small-scale array of mirrors to concentrate the sun’s energy.Now a team at a South African university – led by a former Intel strategic planner – believes they have cracked it. Once they have completed a prototype system in October they have big plans for rolling out the technology.

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Namibia looking to develop CSP with storage

3/11/2015

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 Following South Africa’s concentrated solar power (CSP) success in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, Namibian utility NamPower and the Ministry of Mines and Energy are working on a CSP plant of at least 50 MW with energy storage capabilities.

South Africa has five CSP plants under construction and one in operation. This has pushed Namibia to look at their own performance and towards the end of 2014 NamPower, together with its project partners, reviewed the priority locations by considering the criteria that maximized the value of the first plant in the Namibian network.

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Abengoa brings live 100-MW CSP park in S Africa

3/5/2015

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March 3 (SeeNews) - Spain's Abengoa SA (BME:ABG) on Monday kicked off commercial operations at its 100-MW KaXu Solar One concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province.

The parabolic trough plant is expected to generate enough electricity for about 80,000 local households, the developer estimates. It includes a molten salt storage capacity that can provide up to 2.5 hours of electricity after sunset or before dawn. The plant’s output will be sold to local power utility Eskom under a 20-year contract.

According to Abengoa’s estimates, the Kaxu Solar One represents a nearly USD-891-million (EUR 796m) direct and indirect investment to South Africa and will bring about USD 516 million in taxes over the next 20 years.

Abengoa owns a 51% stake in the Kaxu Solar One park, while the KaXu Community Trust holds 20%. The remaining 29% interest is in the hands of South Africa-based Industrial Development Corp (IDC). The Spanish firm also owns the 100-MW Xina Solar One and the 50-MW Khi Solar One CSP projects in South Africa.

South Africa aims to have as much as 17,800 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

 Source.......

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South Africa’s solar farms

2/16/2015

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A recent study conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) revealed that renewable energy including wind and solar benefited South Africa by as much as R5.3 billion in 2014.

In recent months two major solar power plants went live, while two even larger concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) plants were announced.

SolarReserve announced on 11 November 2014 that the 96 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) Jasper solar power project was completed and fully operational.

The Sishen Solar Energy Facility came online in December 2014, with an estimated 216GWh per year of electricity generation.

In January the Department of Energy announced the construction of two new CSP plants, which will be built in the Northern Cape.

The Kathu Solar Park and Redstone Solar Thermal Power project, both of which will have 100MW capacity, are part of the government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

These solar power plants complement other large solar installations, including the Kalkbult Solar Park, Lesedi Solar Park, and Letsatsi Solar Park.

MyBroadband looked at some of South Africa’s existing and planned solar power plants.

Read more.....


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