Skip to content
Renewable-energy — Industry — Energy — Gadget Wave's Financial Powerhouse — Headline: Gadget Wave's Cloud Computing Guide — Explore Gadget Wave's Latest Innovations

BioTherm Energy Opens Three Groundbreaking Solar Thermal Plants in South Africa

These plants harness the power of the sun even after dark. They're creating jobs and driving South Africa's clean energy transition.

,   and  Administrator
1 min read
On the right there are car, plants, current pole, grass and soil. On the left there are plants,...
On the right there are car, plants, current pole, grass and soil. On the left there are plants, flowers, trees, fencing, house and a pole. Sky is sunny.

BioTherm Energy Opens Three Groundbreaking Solar Thermal Plants in South Africa

BioTherm Energy has opened three groundbreaking solar thermal plants in South Africa's Northern Cape province. These plants, including Aggeneys Solar and Konkoonsies II Solar, use sun-heated salt to generate electricity, providing a stable and clean power supply for nearly a million people.

The plants, which use concentrated solar power (CSP) technology, store heat from the sun in molten salt. This stored heat drives turbines to generate electricity, even when the sun isn't shining. This makes the power supply more predictable and reliable than traditional solar photovoltaic (PV) plants.

South Africa's Northern Cape is embracing this innovative technology, with plans to shift towards solar steam as a primary electricity source. The region is rich in solar resources, making it an ideal location for these plants. The shift towards CSP aligns with South Africa's goal to reduce climate-changing emissions by 2030.

One of the pioneering projects is KaXu Solar One, the first operational private-sector utility-scale CSP plant in South Africa and the developing world. This project has attracted significant private sector funds, paving the way for similar investments in renewable energy projects in emerging markets.

The solar thermal plants in the Northern Cape not only provide clean, stable energy but also create jobs in a region with high youth unemployment. They offer about 80 permanent and 1,700 temporary jobs, contributing to local economic development. Abengoa South Africa is open to replicating these plants in other suitable areas, further expanding the benefits of this innovative technology.

Read also:

Related

Latest