Norwegian-based Scatec ASA has taken the wraps off its Kenhardt hybrid solar and battery facility in the Northern Cape.
Comprising three distinct projects (Kenhardt 1-3), the facility boasts a combined installed capacity of 540MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy and 225MW of batteries, providing a storage capacity of 1.14GWh.
Spanning 879 hectares, equivalent to over 1,500 soccer fields or 10 kilometers from north to south, the project is adorned with one million solar panels and 456 battery units, each comparable in size to a shipping container and weighing 30 tonnes, making it one of the largest hybrid solar and battery storage facilities globally.
Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog expressed awe at the sheer magnitude of the Kenhardt project during the launch, noting its significant contribution to alleviating the country's power shortages and combatting ongoing load shedding challenges.
With a total capital expenditure of approximately R19 billion and providing employment to 2,500 people during its construction phase, the project was awarded by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme in 2022.
Operating under a 20-year agreement, the Kenhardt 1-3 project will consistently supply 150MW of power to Eskom daily from 05:00 to 21:30 throughout the year.
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