Solar independent power producer (IPP) Sonnedix has commissioned the 86MW Mulilo-Sonnedix-Prieska photovoltaic (PV) project in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.
Spread over 125ha, the Prieska plant has been co-developed by South Africa-based Mulilo Renewable Energy and Ixowave Women in Power.
The project was built for Sonnedix by international juwi group’s South African subsidiary juwi Renewable Energies in 17-month period.
Sonnedix CEO Andreas Mustad said: “We are delighted to announce the completion of the Prieska Solar Plant, our first in South Africa.
“The project has driven crucial economic activity in the Northern Cape, and will bring renewable power to 40,000 homes across South Africa.”
The project represents the company’s first solar farm in the country and the biggest of all Sonnedix’s PV plants.
Over the next 20 years, Sonnedix will be responsible for managing the ongoing operations of the solar facility with a local team.
Mulilo Sonnedix Prieska PV project engineering, procurement and construction manager Torsten Keller said: “The logistics were tremendous and we needed reliable partners to ensure that it was executed on time, on budget and in good quality in order to achieve the required performance for the 20-year operation.”
Featuring 275,000 PV modules that are connected by 990km of cable, the project has been developed under the South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Program (REIPPPP).
The REIPPPP aims to add 3,725MW of clean power to the country's energy generation mix.
Image: The Mulilo-Sonnedix-Prieska PV project located in Northern Cape. Photo: courtesy of Sonnedix.