Sub-Saharan Africa’s first CSP plant

The KaXu Solar One concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Pofadder, South Africa. The plant has become the first CSP plant in Sub-Saharan Africa to enter operation.

The 100 MW plant was given the go-ahead during the first round of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP). Mott MacDonald acted as lenders’ technical advisor during the project’s financing and construction and is now monitoring operations.

The plant also includes a 2.5 hour thermal energy storage system to assist in meeting evening peak demand.