Overview
Konkoonsies II Solar Facility is a 75 MW operational solar PV plant in South Africa, contributing to the country's renewable energy expansion under the REIPPPP program.
Konkoonsies II Solar Facility is a 75 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The facility is operational and forms part of South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), which has driven significant solar capacity additions in the region. The plant uses solar PV technology to convert sunlight into electricity, with a capacity of 75 MW, placing it in the medium-to-large scale for South African solar farms. The Northern Cape region is known for its high solar irradiance, making it an ideal location for solar energy generation. The facility operates under a power purchase agreement with the national utility Eskom, contributing to the national grid. Environmentally, the facility helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil fuel-based electricity. It also supports South Africa's goal of increasing renewable energy share to 42% by 2030 under the Integrated Resource Plan. The plant's operation creates local employment and contributes to energy security in the region.
Environmental context
The Northern Cape province features arid to semi-arid climate with high solar irradiation, ideal for solar PV. The facility occupies land that was previously used for grazing, with minimal ecological disruption. Solar farms in this region can impact local biodiversity through land-use change, but careful siting and management mitigate such effects. The plant's operation avoids significant water use compared to conventional power plants, a key advantage in water-scarce South Africa.
Frequently asked questions
Konkoonsies II Solar Facility is located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, near the town of Pofadder, in an area with high solar irradiance.
The facility has a capacity of 75 megawatts (MW), making it a medium-to-large scale solar PV plant in the South African context.
The operator is not publicly specified, but the facility is part of South Africa's REIPPPP program, with power purchased by Eskom under a long-term agreement.
The plant operates under South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), which mandates competitive bidding for renewable energy projects and supports the national Integrated Resource Plan's target of 42% renewable energy by 2030.
The facility reduces greenhouse gas emissions by displacing coal-fired power. It uses minimal water and is sited in an arid area, but land-use change for solar farms can affect local ecosystems. Mitigation measures include maintaining natural vegetation between panels.