A joint venture, between Basil Read Matomo (Pty) Ltd and Isolux Ingenieria, has been appointed by SunEdison to build a 60 megawatt (MW) AC solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Boshof, Free State. The Boshof region experiences some of the highest solar irradiation levels in the country, and which makes it well suited to electricity generation by solar PV. The project forms part of government’s Renewable Energy Programme.

South Africa has a high level of renewable energy potential and currently has a target of 10 000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable energy, or approximately 5% of the country’s total power generation, to be installed by the end of this year. The Minister of Energy has determined that 3 725MW to be generated from renewable energy sources are required to ensure the continued uninterrupted supply of electricity.

The scope of this project covers the construction of 60MW AC solar PV power plant including the substation and interconnection facility required for connection to the 132kV ESKOM grid. The project is expected to break ground at the beginning of August 2013 and a fast-track implementation would see connection to the national grid by the end of August 2014.