Solar Farm to start 2012 - UPINGTON

October 5, 2010

A general view shows the Lieberose solar farm, which is the worlds second biggest solar power plant and Germanys biggest Photograph by: FABRIZIO BENSCH

Government expects the construction of Eskom’s planned solar farm in Upington to start in 2012.
Eskom is likely to be able to finalise a decision on which technology it will use at the sun farm in December, start construction in mid to late 2012, and complete a demonstration plant in 2015. The minister said the project is expected to cost between six to seven billion rand.
The Upington solar power project and a wind farm at Sere, some 160 kilometres north of Cape Town, had been lying dormant for lack of funding.
But the two projects received nearly R2 billion in International Bank for Reconstruction and Development funding as part of the US3.75 billion World Bank loan to Eskom approved earlier this year, putting both back on the drawing board.
Hogan said the World Bank will be providing financing of US250 million “and the rest will be co-financed by other financial institutions such as the African Development Bank”.
“A condition to the World Bank loan was a technology assessment to evaluate developments in concentration solar project technology internationally.
“Following this assessment, which is expected to be completed in December 2010, Eskom will be in a position to finalise the decision on technology choice, production capacity and storage capacity for the demonstration plant.”

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