RENEWABLE ENERGY
Solar park study should begin during May, Peters says
By: Terence Creamer
11th April 2012
A consultant would be selected soon to conduct a full feasibility study into a planned solar park in the Northern Cape and the investigation should begin before the end of May and continue for eight months thereafter.
Energy Minister Dipuo Peters confirmed in a response to a Parliamentary question that her department was working with the Central Energy Fund, the implementing agency for the proposed park, as well as the Northern Cape government and the //Khara Hais municipality to finalise the appointment of the consultant.
“Delays were encountered after the tender documents were released resulting in the delay in the finalisation of the appointment of consultants,” she said.
The department was also working with power utility Eskom to ensure that the first solar power from the park was available by 2016/17, should the feasibility study prove the initiative to be viable.
Eskom was also making some progress with its own 100 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) project, which it planned to develop on a site near Upington, which falls under the //Khara Hais municipality.
The utility recently issued a request for information to test supplier-market interest for the design, supply and installation of the CSP plant it wants to build between 2013 and 2016.
Potential suppliers and contractors had until May 8 to register their interest.
“Delays were encountered after the tender documents were released resulting in the delay in the finalisation of the appointment of consultants,” she said.
The department was also working with power utility Eskom to ensure that the first solar power from the park was available by 2016/17, should the feasibility study prove the initiative to be viable.
Eskom was also making some progress with its own 100 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) project, which it planned to develop on a site near Upington, which falls under the //Khara Hais municipality.
The utility recently issued a request for information to test supplier-market interest for the design, supply and installation of the CSP plant it wants to build between 2013 and 2016.
Potential suppliers and contractors had until May 8 to register their interest.
Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter
