Approval secured for first phase of 1 GW solar project in town of De Aar

Eskom has granted a permit to German developer Soventix for the first phase of a 1 GW solar project in the town of De Aar, South Africa.

To optimize operations, Eskom divided the construction process into three stages. In July 2022, the initial project phase rights were transferred to the South African operator Solar Africa. Solar Africa is anticipated to either resell the completed project or generate green electricity certificates. Soventix is overseeing the development of the second and third phases, ultimately reaching a total capacity of 1 GW. The company has also conducted agrivoltaic tests across different phases to gather valuable data. The De Aar power plant is based on technology employing single-axis solar trackers.

Construction for the first 342 MW is set to commence in Q1 of 2024.