Name and Location
Ilanga Lethemba photovoltaic (PV) solar energy facility, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Client
Solar Capital.

Project Description
The project is among the preferred bidders for the provision of PV power announced by the Department of Energy in December 2011.

The project will be located on the Paarde Valley Farm, which is located about 7 km north-east of De Aar within the jurisdiction of the Emthanjeni local municipality.

The proposed project involves the establishment of a commercial solar energy facility and associated infrastructure for the purpose of electricity generation on a site north-east of De Aar in the Northern Cape.

The facility will have a generating capacity of up to 300 MW, which will be developed in phases.

It is envisaged that 75 MW will be installed in a first phase and the remaining three phases will be developed at 75 MW each.

• The infrastructure will include support structures to mount the PV panels. The angle of the panels will be lifted at 25° from the horizontal plane facing north and may be adjusted to optimise for summer or winter solar radiation, and for the daily movement of the sun from east to west, the maximum height of the PV panels, once mounted, will be around 2.8 m above ground level.
• An in situ substation, within an area of 100 m x 100 m, and new short overhead power lines between each phase and the in situ substation as well as four new overhead 22 kV power lines connecting the four proposed phases to the proposed in situ substation will be required.
• A short power line from the in situ substation will turn into the existing Hydra MTS-Behrshoek 132 kV powerline that traverses the site, there connecting directly into the Eskom electricity grid.
• Invertors will be required to convert the electricity from direct current to alternating current.
• Cabling between project components is to be laid underground, where practical.
• Access roads with a width less than 5 m constructed within the site for the purposes of construction and limited maintenance during operation – the southern road will be about 6 394 m in length, while the western road parallel to the R48 will be about 1 025 m in length.
• Temporary laydown and storage areas in an area less than 1 ha close to an existing house are to be used as the site office.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The environmental-impact assessment (EIA) has been submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Savannah Environmental (EIA) and Standard Bank (funding).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
Savannah Environmental, tel +27 11 234 6621, fax +27 86 684 0547 or email info@savannahsa.com.
Standard Bank, tel +27 11 299 4701 or email information@standardbank.co.za.