Project Statement

The SABRE-Gen concentrating Solar Power (CSP) component is aimed at the evaluation and assessment of CSP technologies, for their implementation in South and Southern Africa.

Aim

The assessment of technologies for large-scale, grid connected power generation.

The study has being conducted in three phase. Phase one compared 14 STE technologies and/or design variations to determine the options that could be considered as near-term options.

The screening phase identified two options as near-term. They are parabolic troughs and central receivers. Phase two of the work conducted a pre-feasibility study on these two options to determine which one would be most suitable for application within South Africa and the country's unique situation.

The pre-feasibility study had the following components:

The pre-feasibility study was completed in June 2002 and presented the following conclusions:

·         A pilot-scale CSP plant built in South Africa could produce the lowest cost solar electricity in the world to-date.

·         The Upington site selected as the baseline for the plant evaluations appears to offer one of the best solar resources in the world.

·         CSP plants can be designed to meet evening peak loads in South Africa.

·         Either the trough or power-tower plant represents a reasonable choice for a pilot plant.

·         Little difference exists between the generation costs of the ‘conservative’ scenarios for the two technologies. However, it seems that the central receiver/power tower technology has the potential for lower cost generation in future, compared with the trough technology.

·         CSP will cost more than Eskom's current price of coal power for the foreseeable future.

Phase 3 completed a full feasibility study on a 100MW solar only power station. The study assessed the possibility of locally manufacturing key components of the two technologies and determined which technology can offer the most significant cost reductions, based on a significant local content.

The feasibility study then completed a detailed evaluation of the molten salt-type central receiver technology.

The mentioned feasibility study identified some technical risks and linked to these, financial uncertainties. As such, Eskom was not in a position to make a final investment decision on this technology.

August 2005 saw the approval of a follow-on phase, with three focal areas. These are reducing technical risk, completing an Environmental Impact Assessment and compiling a comprehensive cost estimate for a 1^st unit. This work will continue until the end 2007, following which a decision on further actions will be taken.