Enel Begins Work On 3 Solar PV Plants In South Africa Totalling 231 MW

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

---

The renewable energy company Enel Green Power, a subsidiary of the giant firm Enel, has begun construction on 3 new solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in South Africa, according to recent reports.

Altogether, once completed, the 3 power plants will possess a reported 231 megawatts (MW) in generating capacity — representing a significant boost to the African country’s renewable energy infrastructure.

The projects are part of a broader push by Enel Green Power that was stimulated by the relatively recent third-phase tender of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme — which totalled 313.5 MW of new solar PV projects.

As far as the 3 new power plants go, according to Enel Green Power, the Paleisheuwel project will have an installed capacity of 82.5 MW once completed, the Aurora project will comprise a further 82.5 MW of new capacity, and the Tom Burke project will comprise a further 66 MW in capacity.

The Paleisheuwel project is being built in Western Cape Province, the Aurora project is being built in the Northern Cape Province, and the Tom Burke project is being built in the Limpopo Province.

During the recent third-phase tender of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, Enel Green Power also won the contract to build the 82.5 MW Pulida project — which reportedly hasn’t begun construction yet.

Considering the notable solar energy potential (with regards to solar insolation levels) of South Africa, the continuing development of these projects represents a good step forward, and should go someways towards helping the country reduce its energy expenses and move away from reliance on fossil fuels.

Image Credit: Enel