The 100 MW plant features parabolic trough technology with a five-hour thermal energy storage system using molten salts.
Abengoa has secured the project financing agreement with public development financial institutions such as the African Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation, Industrial Development Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa; and local private banks such as RMB, Nedbank and ABSA. Xina Solar One will supply clean electricity to Eskom, South Africa’s power utility, under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
With a total investment of approximately USD 1 billion, construction of Xina Solar One has already begun and the plant will come online in the third quarter of 2017. Job creation will peak at over 1,300 positions during the construction phase, generating 45 permanent jobs for plant operation and maintenance.
Xina Solar One will be located close to Pofadder, in the Northern Cape Province, next to KaXu Solar One. These two 100 MW plants will jointly shape the largest solar complex in Africa. Xina Solar One will belong to a consortium, 40 % of which is controlled by Abengoa. Other constituents of the consortium are IDC, PIC, and KaXu Community Trust.
Xina Solar One will produce enough energy to serve more than 90,000 households and will prevent the emission of more than 398,000 metric tons of CO2 per year when compared to a natural gas burning power plant.
Xina Solar One will be the third project of Abengoa in South Africa, along with Kaxu Solar One (100 MW) and Khi Solar One (50 MW), both under advanced stage of construction. These three projects contribute to South Africa´s goal to introduce up to 17,800 MW of renewable energy by 2030 and reduce its dependence on oil and natural gas.
Abengoa has partnered with the state-owned IDC, South Africa´s largest development finance institution, to create South Africa´s clean energy future by allowing the country to reduce its dependence on fossil fuel for power generation, specifically coal.
