 10 Biggest Solar Projects in Africa Africa is a leader in the development of renewable energy. The continent's availability of renewable energy resources, like its solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar power, CSP, has given it the opportunity to offer utility-scale electricity to the over 600 million people who do not have access to reliable electricity. Nor Africa's largest solar project is located in Morocco, whereas South Africa is home to eight of Africa's top 10 solar plans. By installed capacity, power technology has compiled a list of Africa's largest operational solar installations. While we hope you appreciate our work, please give us a thumbs up by clicking the like button more, better yet, sharing, subscribing and turning on your notifications for new videos. Join us on a little excursion today as we look at the top 10 solar projects in Africa. 10. Calpolt Solar Plant 75 megawatt The 75 megawatt Calpolt Solar PV facility is located near Petrusville in South Africa's northern Cape province. The project, which was developed by Scatic Solar, was officially opened in November 2013. The Calpolt Solar Project began construction in November 2012 and was connected to the grid in September 2013. The PV plant is made up of 312,000 solar panels that are spread out over 105 acres of land. The Calpolt plant produces 135 gigawatts hour of renewable energy each year, enough to power 33,000 homes. It will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 115,000 tons per year. 9. SonicDix Presca PV Project 86 megawatt The 86 megawatt Mililo SonicDix Presca Solar Photovoltaic PV Project spans 125 hectares of land in South Africa's northern Cape province. In July 2016, the solar facility began commercial operations. Mililo Renewable Project Developments designed this project for Mililo SonicDix Presca PV in collaboration with Mililo Renewable Energy and Ixowave Women in Power, TAI. During its 20-year lifespan, the Mililo SonicDix Presca PV Project will provide enough electricity to 40,000 South African households via the ESCEM system. 8. Jasper Solar Power Project 96 megawatt Jasper is one of the most important solar energy plants in continental Africa, with a 96 megawatt DC installed capacity. The solar facility is located in post-Mesberg, South Africa's northern Cape province. Solar Reserve and its consortium partners Kinsani and Intikken Energy developed the Solar Power Project. The Jasper facility began construction in October 2013, and it became fully operational in October 2014. Jasper produces roughly 180 gigawatt each hour of renewable energy each year, enough to power 80,000 houses in South Africa. The facility generates 180 gigawatt hour of electricity per year, enough to power 80,000 South African homes, and offsets approximately 145,000 tons of CO2. Jasper has a 20-year power purchase agreement. PPA, with ESCEM, like many of the other solar projects mentioned. 7. Cathue Solar Park 100 megawatt The Cathue Solar Park KSP is a 100 megawatt MW. CSP project located in Cathue, South Africa's northern Cape province. In January 2019, the Solar Park opened for business. In Jai, Siak Community Development Trust, Public Investment Corporation, Larico-Medier Rape Fund Trust, Investec Bank, and the Cathue LCT Trust are the owners of the KSP project. The Greenfield project combines parabolic trough and molten salt storage technology, resulting in a thermal energy storage capacity of 4.5 hours. During the peak demand time in South Africa, it serves 179,000 households. With a capacity of 100 megawatt, Cathue is South Africa's largest solar park. The plant's construction began in May 2016, and it entered commercial operation in January 2019, with a 30-year operational life. The park is expected to cost $811 million and will reduce CO2 emissions by 6 million tons over the next 20 years. It has strengthened its environmental credentials by launching a program to protect endangered and vulnerable plant species. A total of 3,345 plants were rescued and transported to a safer location for growing as part of the initiative. 6. Alanga 1 CSP Plant 100 megawatt In November 2018, Center and its partners in Velo and Cobra finished commissioning and testing the 100 megawatt Alanga 1 CSP plant. Kerashuk Solar 1, RF. Proprietary owns the plant, which is located at Kerashuk in the northern Cape province of South Africa. There are 266 seen artroff loops in the Alanga 1 CSP plant. The plant's molten salt storage system provides five hours of thermal energy storage, allowing it to generate heat in the absence of solar radiation. Over the next 20 years, the solar power plant is expected to deliver clean electricity to about 100,000 South African homes while reducing CO2 emissions by 90,000 tons. 5. Xena Solar 1 100 megawatt Xena Solar 1 is a 100 megawatt concentrated solar power, CSP. Project developed by Ubingoa with an $880 million investment in paw fatter South Africa. In September 2017, the plant began commercial operations. The CSP plant uses parabolic trough technology and has a thermal energy storage capacity of 5.5 hours. The plant's parabolic trough collector is considered the world's largest commercial CSP project to date. The project is expected to produce around 400 gigawatt hour of electricity enough to power 95,000 homes while reducing CO2 emissions by 348,000 tons per year. 4. Solar power in South Africa A look at the country's solar plants. The Public-Private Partnership project, which was completed in March 2015, provides sustainable energy to South Africa's power company, Escom, under a 20-year power purchase deal. Ubingoa owns 51% of the project while the IDC and KAZU Community Trust control 29% and 20% respectively. The KAZU Solar 1 power plant has the capacity to provide clean, green energy to 80,000 South African households. South Africa used to support substantial nuclear power expansion as a solution to fulfill its expanding energy needs with clean energy, with the technology serving as the cornstone of its 2010 integrated resource strategy. However, by 2018, the ever-increasing expense of nuclear electricity had forced it to shift course. Its 2018 IRP calls for the addition of 5.7 gigawatt of solar electricity to the grid by 2030 on top of the almost 1.5 gigawatt now in use. The Northern Cape is home to a large portion of South Africa's solar sector. 3. KAZU Solar 1 100 megawatt KAZU Solar 1 is a 100 megawatt solar power facility located near Poffatter in South Africa's Northern Cape province. It is South Africa's first commercially functioning solar thermal electric power plant. It's also South Africa's first CSP plant that utilized parabolic trough technology. In March of 2015, the project was formally inaugurated. It provides sustainable electricity to almost 80,000 African homes while reducing CO2 emissions by 315,000 tons per year. A BINGOA Solar, 51%, the State-run Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, 29%, and a community trust owned by broad-based black economic empowerment are all shareholders in the KAZU Solar 1 project, BBBE, 20%. The South African Department of Energy, DOE, announced 28 renewable energy projects in 2011. KAZU Solar 1 is one of them. 2. Benbin Solar Project 165.5 megawatt The 165.5-meter Watt-Benbin photovoltaic, PV. Solar Park is located in Benbin, Egypt, in the Iswan province. The Solar Park consists of three solar power facilities with separate installed capacities of 67.5 MW, 70 MW, and 28 megawatt. Chin Solar completed the 165.5 megawatt project in August 2018. The Solar Park, which cost $190 million to build, is developed, financed, and operated by AQUA Power. 1. Nor Solar Complex 510 megawatt The Nor Solar Complex is a 510 megawatt solar park in Morocco's Agadir area, located in the town of Wazazi. It is the world's largest concentrated solar power plant. The project's site receives 2,635 KW per meter square of sunlight each year, which is among the greatest in the world. Multiple utility-scale solar power facilities using diverse solar technologies are integrated into the Solar Park. The Nor Solar Park consists of three projects with a total area of 2,500 hectares. Nor 1, Nor 2, and Nor 3. By 2018, the three power plants have been connected to the grid. Phase 1 was anticipated to $537 million. The African Development Bank, a FDB, group was the sole source of funding. The total investment for Phase 2 of the Nor Complex was $2 billion, with 80% of the money coming from loan and 20% coming from equity. Mason provided the whole debt facility, which was backed by the FDB, Agents' Frankays to Development, Clean Technology Fund, European Commission, European Investment Bank, Creditanstalt, Ferwiderofbau, and World Bank. Solar technologies turn sunlight into electrical energy by using photovoltaic panels or concentrating solar radiation with mirrors. This is a modern and efficient kind of energy that is increasingly being adopted by various countries and continents. When it comes to the usage of renewable energy in the form of solar energy, African countries are not left out. Thank you for watching this video all the way through. Please support Africa Reloaded by liking, commenting, sharing, and subscribing. To be notified of new videos about African projects, subscribe to our YouTube channel. Please make sure that your notifications are turned on.