Kathu Solar Park

Kathu Solar Park is a concentrated solar power (CSP) thermal energy power plant, located near Kathu in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.^[1]

Kathu Solar Park
Country	South Africa
Location	Kathu, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality
Coordinates	27.6135°S 23.0426°E / -27.6135; 23.0426
Status	Operational
Construction began	May 2016
Commission date	30 January 2019
Solar farm
Type	CSP
CSP technology	Parabolic Reflectors
Site area	800 hectares (1,977 acres)
Power generation
Nameplate capacity	100 MW
Capacity factor	44.5%
Annual net output	390 GWh (expected)
Storage capacity	450 MW·he
External links
Website	kathu solar park

It has a capacity of 100.0 megawatts (MW), and full-load molten storage capacity of 4.5 hours. It covers an area of approximately 800 hectares (1,977 acres).

The project shareholders, led by Engie include the Public Investment Corporation, SIOC Community Development Trust, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Investec, Lereko Metier and the Kathu Trust. The plant was constructed by the consortium formed by Acciona and SENER, acting as Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) provider.^[2]

The plant began commercial operations in January 2019,^[3] and currently supplies power for an estimated 179,000 households in South Africa.

See also

• South Africa portal
• Renewable energy portal

• List of solar thermal power stations
• List of power stations in South Africa