Photovoltaic (PV) technology specialist Soventix South Africa has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for one of the largest roof-mounted PV plants in South Africa
Under the contract, which was awarded by electronic circuit boards manufacturer Bosco and is subject to approval from South Africa’s national electricity company Eskom, Soventix will provide the planning and construction of the project as well as consultation services.
Rowan Jacklin, general manager of Soventix and responsible for the company’s activities in sub-Saharan Africa said, “I feel that Soventix secured this contract due to the fact that we are an international solar developer with vast experience. That coupled with the healthy return we could negotiate with Eskom, and the support we offer our customers certainly gave us the advantage.
“Besides the planning, construction and organisational work, Soventix offers system operation, monitoring of the returns and maintenance of all components,” he added.
A pilot EPC agreement has been signed for a system size of 304 kilowatt-peak (kWp), extendable to up to 560 kWp in a second construction phase.
According to Soventix, the plant, which will contain more than 1,200 high-voltage photovoltaic Jinko Solar modules (each offering 250 watts of power) and 19 SMA Solar Technology inverters, will produce approximately 505 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity per year.
The PV system will also avoid emitting almost 500 tons of carbon dioxide annually, which would be emitted if the energy were to be produced instead by Eskom’s coal power plants, the company noted.
The construction phase is due to commence in July 2013 (or as soon as Eskom’s approval has been given) and will take between two and four months to implement and commission, Soventix said.
Soventix will be exhibiting and presenting at Clean Power Africa at the CTICC in Cape Town, South Africa from 14-15 May 2013.
