South Africa’s groundbreaking solar tower using molten salt technology.
London, October 02, 2024, (Oilandgaspress) –––Powerchina has switched on a 100 MW solar tower in South Africa. The concentrated solar power (CSP) project will supply 480 GWh of clean energy to the country’s power grid each year. The system’s molten salt storage enables 12 hours of full-load operation.
The Redstone 100-megawatt Solar Thermal Power Plant Project in South Africa, built by POWERCHINA, achieved its first grid connection on Sept 14, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress.
This project is Sub-Saharan Africa’s first molten salt solar thermal power plant in a tower configuration and the largest investment project in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province. This achievement lays a solid foundation for its future full-load operations.
The project utilizes advanced molten salt storage technology in a tower configuration and is equipped with 41,260 heliostats that precisely reflect sunlight onto the solar tower’s heat receiver. The stored molten salt allows for 12 hours of full-load operation, ensuring continuous electricity generation, even after sunset.
Once completed, the project will provide 480 gigawatt-hours of clean power to South Africa’s power grid annually, meeting the electricity needs of approximately 200,000 South African households. It will significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels, cut carbon emissions, and play a crucial role in South Africa’s energy transition.
The plant’s carbon emissions per kilowatt-hour are significantly lower than those of traditional photovoltaic plants. This achievement will strongly support South Africa’s efforts to address climate change and help achieve its clean energy targets.
At its peak, the project created over 600 direct jobs and employed around 1,800 workers, contributing significantly to local economic and social development.
The successful grid connection has demonstrated POWERCHINA’s technical expertise and execution capability to the South African government, project owners, and partners.
POWERCHINA will continue post-connection equipment inspections and adjustments to ensure full-load operation, contributing to the shared growth and green energy future of both China and South Africa.
Information Source: Read Press Release
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