PowerChina has activated a 100 MW solar tower in South Africa that will supply 480 GWh of clean energy annually.
Using molten salt storage technology, the tower can provide 12 hours of continuous power generation, even after sunset.
Advancing South Africa’s Renewable Energy Goals
PowerChina has switched on a new 100 MW solar tower in South Africa, a significant milestone in the country’s renewable energy transition. This new Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project is set to supply around 480 GWh of clean energy to the national grid each year.
Located in the Siyanda district of South Africa’s Northern Cape province, the project uses molten salt storage technology to enable 12 hours of full-load operation. This ensures the plant can continue generating electricity after the sun has set, providing much-needed reliability to the country’s power grid.
South Africa’s First Molten Salt Solar Tower
This facility is the first solar thermal power plant in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa to use molten salt technology. Known as the Redstone project, it is also the largest investment in the Northern Cape, contributing to both economic growth and social development in the area.
Molten Salt Solar Tower
The technology behind the solar tower is highly advanced. The plant is equipped with 41,260 heliostats, which are mirrors that reflect sunlight onto a central receiver on the tower.
This receiver heats molten salt to temperatures of up to 565 degrees Celsius.
The molten salt is then stored in insulated tanks, allowing the plant to generate power long after the sun sets. This storage capability makes the project unique, providing stable and reliable electricity day or night.
Significant Local Impact
The construction of the solar tower has brought significant economic benefits to the local community. More than 600 local jobs have been created, and around 1,800 people were employed at the peak of construction. PowerChina, the company behind the project, highlighted the importance of these jobs in stimulating the local economy.
The project’s long-term benefits are just as significant. It will provide electricity to around 200,000 South African households. By generating 480 GWh of clean energy each year, the solar tower will help reduce South Africa’s dependence on fossil fuels, thereby reducing carbon emissions and contributing to the country’s environmental goals.
The electricity generated by the solar project will be sold to South Africa’s national utility, Eskom, as part of a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) under the country’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPP) program.
The total investment for the Redstone project is approximately $724 million. The Saudi Arabian company ACWA Power is the largest shareholder, holding a 49% stake in the project. ACWA Power is a leading developer of power generation and water desalination projects in the Middle East and Africa.
Pioneering Technology for South Africa’s Energy Future
The solar tower is a major milestone in South Africa’s energy transition. The country has been working to diversify its energy mix and reduce its reliance on coal, which still fuels a large portion of its power generation. Projects like Redstone are critical to achieving this goal.
Molten salt technology is a game-changer for the renewable energy sector. The ability to store energy for long periods means solar power can now provide consistent, 24-hour electricity. This is especially important in South Africa, where power shortages and load-shedding have been common in recent years.
The Redstone solar tower is part of a broader push by the South African government to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s power mix. As more solar and wind projects come online, the country will become less reliant on coal and other fossil fuels.
The success of this solar tower is a testament to the potential of renewable energy to transform South Africa’s power sector. As the country continues to invest in clean energy, projects like Redstone will play a key role in securing a sustainable, low-carbon future.
