Boikanyo Solar Power Station

The Boikanyo Solar Power Station is a 50 MW (67,000 hp) solar power plant in South Africa. It is a grid-connected, privately owned and privately funded solar power station.[1] The power station, which took about one year to construct, reached "grid code compliance" on 9 April 2021 and provided 450 construction jobs.[2]

Boikanyo Solar Power Station
CountrySouth Africa
LocationDouglas, Siyancuma, Pixley ka Seme District, Northern Cape Province
Coordinates29°00′26″S 23°48′21″E
StatusOperational
Construction beganApril 2020
Commission date9 April 2021
Owner(s)Boikanyo Solar Company
Solar farm
TypeFlat-panel PV
Site area168 hectares (420 acres)
Thermal capacity152 GWh
Power generation
Units operational184,000
Nameplate capacity50 MW (67,000 hp)

Location

The power station is located near the town of Douglas, in Siyancuma Local Municipality, in the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality, in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.[1] This is approximately 116 kilometres (72 mi), by road, southwest of Kimberly, the provincial headquarters of Northern Cape Province.[3] Douglas is located approximately 595 kilometres (370 mi), by road, southwest of Johannesburg, the country's business capital.[4]

Overview

The power station sits on 168 hectares (420 acres) of "low vale farmland". It comprises 184,000 solar panels, capable of collectively generating 152 GWh annually, enough to supply 62,000 South African homes. The power is evacuated via a 132kV high voltage transmission line to the Siyancuma substation, where the energy is integrated into the national grid. Eskom, the national electricity utility company of South Africa buys the generated electricity, under a twenty-year power purchase agreement.[1][3]

Developers

The power station was developed by a consortium, which owns the station and has formed a special purpose vehicle company by the name: Boikanyo Power Company. The consortium comprises the corporate entities listed in the table below.[1][5]

Boikanyo Power Company Ownership
RankName of OwnerNotes
1Reatile Solar Power[1][5]
2Phakwe Solar[1][5]
3African Rainbow Energy and Power[1][5]
4Cicada Community Trust[1][5]
5African Infrastructure Investment Managers[1][5]

Other considerations

This power station was licensed under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Purchasing Programme (REIPPP). This program was designed by the Government of South Africa, with the objective of attracting "private investment in the renewable energy sector".[1][4][5]

The same consortium of all South African-based IPPs was granted concessions to develop renewables as illustrated in the table below.[1][5]

List of Renewables Developed and Owned by the Same Consortium
RankPower StationLocationEnergyCapacityStatus
1De Wildt Solar Power StationBritsSolar50 MWOperational[6]
2Waterloo Solar Power StationVryburgSolar75 MWOperational[7]
3Bokamoso Solar Power StationBokamosoSolar68 MWOperational[8]
4Zeerust Solar Power StationZeerustSolar75 MWOperational[9]
5Boikanyo Solar Power StationDouglasSolar50 MWOperational[1]

See also

References

  1. Jean Marie Takouleu (12 August 2021). "South Africa: Boikanyo solar power plant (50 MWp) starts commercial operations". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  2. Theresa Smith (11 August 2021). "Northern Cape boasts SA's highest number of clean energy projects". ESI-Africa. Rondebosch, South Africa. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  3. Google (17 August 2021). "Road Distance Between Kimberley, South Africa And Douglas South Africa With Map" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  4. Google (17 August 2021). "Road Distance Between Johannesburg, South Africa And Douglas, South Africa With Interactive Map" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  5. Dennis Ayemba (10 August 2021). "South Africa: Boikanyo Solar Comes on Line to Power Up the Northern Cape". Africanminingbrief.com. Sandton, South Africa. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  6. Jean Marie Takouleu (29 January 2021). "South Africa: De Wildt PV solar power plant (50 MWp) goes into operation". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  7. ESI-Africa (30 November 2020). "South Africa: 75MW Waterloo Solar Begins Commercial Operations" (Energy-World Quoting ESI-Africa). World-Energy.com. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  8. Babalwa Bungane (18 September 2020). "South Africa: Bokamoso Solar plant commences commercial operations". ESI-Africa. Rondebosch, South Africa. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  9. Jean Marie Takouleu (27 August 2021). "South Africa: Zeerust solar power plant (75 MWp) goes into commercial operation". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
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