French energy company Soitec has been selected by the South African Department of Energy as a preferred bidder under the country's independent power producer programme.
Soitec's first project under the scheme will be the installation of a 50MW concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) plant in Touwsrivier in the Western Cape province. The site is next to the Aquila Private Game Reserve where Soitec has a pilot solar facility. Schneider Electric's South African division is a partner helping to deliver the project.
The Department of Energy has an ambition to generate 42 per cent of South Africa's new electricity from renewable sources over the next 20 years.
As part of the United Nations climate conference in Durban, Soitec constructed a 500kW CPV plant to power the event with help from local partnerships.