Scatec Launches 540 MW Kenhardt Solar Farm In South Africa

Scatec Launches 540 MW Kenhardt Solar Farm In South Africa

Scatec has recently launched the Kenhardt project totalling 540 MW solar and 225 MW/1,140 MWh battery storage in South Africa. The Scatec project is touted to be one of the world’s largest hybrid solar and battery storage facilities.

The Sactec project was awarded by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in South Africa under the technology-agnostic RMIPPP and is located in the sundrenched Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The Scatec project has a total capex of approximately USD 1 billion and marks the largest commitment in Scatec’s history. The power will be sold under a 20-year PPA with Eskom. Scatec holds 51% of the equity and H1 Holdings, our local Black Economic Empowerment partner 49%.

Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog praised the significant progress made at the site, which now contributes electricity to South Africa grid, reaffirming Scatec’s dedication to the local market. Spanning 879 hectares and stretching 10 kilometers from north to south, the Scatec site houses one million solar panels and a battery facility comprising 456 units, each equivalent to the size of a shipping container as well as weighing 30 tons, stated a statement by Scatec.

As of 2023, the solar energy capacity in South Africa amounted to 6,164 megawatts. This represented a decrease of roughly 2.6 percent from the previous year. During the period under review, solar energy capacity grew dramatically from 262 to 6,326 megawatts in 2013 and 2023, respectively. The unstable power grid in the country is one of the reasons why residents are seeking an alternative source of electricity.

Africa’s contribution to the global solar PV capacity of 350 GW in 2023 was only 1%, according to Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA). Yet, it says the 3.7 GW annual additions last year make it the best performance ever recorded for solar in the continent. It represents a 16% annual increase over 3.1 GW in 2022. This estimated addition in 2023, says AFSIA in its Solar Outlook 2024 report, expands the continent’s aggregate PV capacity to exceed 16 GW. South Africa makes up 7.78 GW of this total.