SolarReserve, a developer of utility-scale solar power projects, has announced that the 96 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) Jasper solar power project has completed construction and is fully operational.<\/p>\n
The power project, located in South Africa’s Northern Cape, came online in October 2014, two months ahead of schedule, and is the largest solar installation on the continent.<\/p>\n
The project also marks Google\u2019s first renewable energy investment in Africa \u2013 the Internet search giant reportedly invested US$12 million into the solar park.<\/p>\n
Jasper also includes the 75 MW Lesedi solar power project which came online in May, and the proposed 100 MW Redstone concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) plant..<\/p>\n
The Jasper Project generated about 1 million man-hours during construction, peaking at over 800 on-site construction jobs, SolarReserve said.<\/p>\n
With over 325,000 PV modules, it will deliver 180,000 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually for South Africa residents \u2013 enough to power up to 80,000 households through a 20-year power purchase agreement with SA power utility, Eskom.<\/p>\n
The project was developed by a consortium consisting of SolarReserve, the Kensani Group, and Intikon Energy, a local developer of renewable energy projects.<\/p>\n
Additional equity investment shareholders include the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), the PEACE Humansrus Community Trust, and SolarReserve with Rand Merchant Bank providing preference share equity.<\/p>\n
South Africa gets first solar powered ATMs<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n