The Droogfontein Solar Power project is located 20km outside Kimberley, in the Sol Plaatje Municapality in the Northern Cape. It occupies approximately 100 hectares of land leased from the Droogfontein Communcal Property Association.
The facility generates electricity using 168 720 solar (PV) panels and feeds the 132kV Eskom distribution system. Arising from the South African Government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), Droogfontein Solar Power has signed a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Eskom as well as an Implementation Agreement with the Department of Energy.
The project mobilised construction teams in December 2012 and reached Commercial Operations Date mid 2014. The solar power project generates 85 458 MWh per year, supplying enough clean, renewable electrical energy to power more than 19 000 South African homes.
The project received full Environmental Authorisation from the Department of Environmental Affairs in 2011 and has many environmental benefits such as reduced carbon emissions and water saving – get details on these here
The local community benefits from the project in many ways, including:
Click on the above links for more information on each.
PAIA Manual: PAIA-Manual-for-DF-Solar
Request for information form: Form-C-Request-for-Information(1)
