Solar project knocking on Mokopane’s door
the Tom Burke Photovoltaic Plant is the first facility to be declared a national key point by the South African Police Service (SAPS) - Enel Green Power South Africa
LIMPOPO – One of the largest solar scale projects in South Africa is on Mokopane’s doorstep.
During an event held on Wednesday, 20 September the head of Enel Green Power South Africa (EGP RSA), William Price, said the Tom Burke Photovoltaic Plant is the first facility to be declared a national key point by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Due to the plant’s strategic role in delivering electricity to the national grid and importance for the security of energy supply in Limpopo, it is one of EGP RSA’s first large scale solar projects.
“South Africa is a resource-rich country and we are proud to provide a strong renewable energy generation base. By harnessing renewable energy sources we can improve electrification in Southern Africa and incorporate current and available technologies to bridge the gap between supply and demand for energy in a sustainable way,” Price said.
According to Price, the Tom Burke plant is 180 km from Mokopane and has a capacity of 66 MW and started operation in August 2016. “The site was declared a National Key Point in line with South Africa’s National Key Point Act (1980) due to the important strategic role it plays by delivering energy to the national grid and supplying electricity to Limpopo.
Tom Burke is situated on 202 hectares of land and can generate up to 122 GWh per year, equivalent to the annual consumption needs of around 38 000 South African households while avoiding the emission of over 111,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.”
Tom Burke is supported by a 20-year power supply agreement with the South African power utility Eskom, as part of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) tender promoted by the South African Government which awarded the project to the Enel Group.
“EGP RSA first began operations in South Africa in 2014 and the company already has a significant presence in the local market with more than 520 MW of wind and solar projects in operation. EGP RSA currently owns and operates five PV plants in South Africa,” Price said.
redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za
