Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe said, “We have six solar photovoltaic (PV) sites currently operating with an installed capacity of 2 500KW. They are located at the Kendal power station in Mpumalanga, Lethabo power station in the Free State, Eskom’s offices in Rosherville [Johannesburg], Sunilaws [East London] and two at our head office Megawatt Park [Johannesburg]… ”.
PV is a way of converting solar energy into direct current electricity with the use of semiconducting materials. Phasiwe said these PV sites formed part of the company’s national energy efficiency strategy and a further two sites at Mkondeni in Pietermaritzburg, and Bellville in Cape Town were under construction.
“All the PV sites in commercial operation are now operating at almost 100 percent availability and performance ratios are well within the manufacturers’ guarantees. All energy generated is used for self-consumption at the various office blocks or power stations,” he said.
Phasiwe added that the power utility was building up skills, expertise and capability in project development, construction, operations and maintenance of solar PV plants and were poised for further rollouts at more Eskom offices.
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