Khi Solar One

Khi Solar One

Solar One from South
Location of Khi Solar One in South Africa
Country South Africa
Location Upington
Coordinates 28°32′14″S 21°4′39″E / 28.53722°S 21.07750°E / -28.53722; 21.07750Coordinates: 28°32′14″S 21°4′39″E / 28.53722°S 21.07750°E / -28.53722; 21.07750
Status Operational
Construction began November 2012
Commission date February 2016
Owner(s) Abengoa
Solar field
Type CSP
CSP technology Solar power tower
Collectors 4,120
Total collector area 57.68 hectares (143 acres)
Site area 140 hectares (346 acres)
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 50 MW
Storage capacity 2 hours
Average generation 180 GWh

Khi Solar One (KSO) is a solar power tower solar thermal power plant, located in the Northern Cape Region of South Africa. Khi Solar One is 50 megawatts (MW), and will is the first solar tower plant in Africa.[1] It covers an area of 140 hectares (346 acres).

Abengoa claim it is the first thermal solar tower plant in Africa and the first tower plant to achieve 24 hours of operation with solar energy only.[2]

The KSO is an evolution of the PS10 and PS20 projects, operating since 2007 and 2009 respectively in Spain. KSO solar field is made of more than 4,000 heliostats, totaling up to 576,800 m2 (6,209,000 sq ft) of mirror surface, focusing solar energy on a boiler located on top a centralized 205-metre-high (673 ft) tower. KSO uses a superheated steam cycle that should be able to reach a maximum operating temperature of 530 °C. Accumulated saturated steam is also used to provide up to two hours of thermal storage at the plant. KSO condenser is cooled with a dry cooling system, a natural draft condenser that uses towers to distribute air across fin blades in order to dissipate heat.[3]

The project has been developed by the Spanish company Abengoa, and the project was financed with help from Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and community group, Khi Community Trust.

Abengoa Bankruptcy

In November 2015, Abengoa started insolvency proceedings.[4] Khi Solar One is one of the assets which Abengoa could be looking to sell.[5]

Accident

A crane collapse on site during construction killed two and injured seven. The accident was largely responsible for the project being completed two years later than scheduled.[6][7]

Khi Solar One, 50MW, 180 GWh, solar power tower thermal plant

See also

References

  1. ↑ KSO in South Africa
  2. ↑ "Abengoa lauds 24-hour operation of S African solar tower - SeeNews Renewables". renewables.seenews.com. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  3. ↑ Baring the secrets of Khi Solar One
  4. ↑ "UPDATE 3-Spain's Abengoa starts insolvency proceedings, shares dive". Reuters. 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  5. ↑ "The state of renewable energy in SA". CityPress. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  6. ↑ CSP-World (2014-11-04). "Two killed and 7 injured in an accident at Abengoa's CSP plant under construction in South Africa". CSP-World. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  7. ↑ Magcaba, Sbonokuhle. "Two dead and four critical in Upington crane collapse". www.enca.com. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
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