The Boshof Solar Power project is located 55km north east of Kimberley in the town of Boshof, which forms part of the Tokologo Local Municipality in the Free State. It occupies approximately 160 hectares of land.
The facility generates electricity using 218 000 solar (PV) panels and feeds the 132kV Eskom distribution system.
Arising from the South African Government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), Boshof Solar Power signed a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Eskom as well as an Implementation Agreement with the Department of Energy.
The solar project supplies 132 000 MWh per year, enough clean, renewable electrical energy to meet the needs of 30 000 average South African households.
The project received full Environmental Authorisation from the Department of Environmental Affairs in 2011 and has many environmental benefits such as reduced carbon emissions and water-saving – get details on these here.
The local community benefits from the project in many ways, including:
