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Kimberley - Airports Company SA (Acsa) launched its second solar power plant at Kimberley Airport in the Northern Cape on Friday.
Jabu Khambule, general manager of Acsa's regional airports, told Fin24 the investment of R13.5m in Kimberley is significant in terms of SA's developmental imperative regarding energy security.
It is estimated that the solar plant will bring about savings of R65 000 per month for Kimberley airport. Acsa plans to generate 42% of its energy use from renewables by 2030.
"We took the lead from President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address earlier this year in which his 9-point plan included energy security as one of the priorities," explained Khambule.
The solar farm is located on 0.7 hectares of land within the airport precinct and uses an 11kV substation as it its main source of supply, which is also located on the airport’s land. The plant is designed to deliver 500 KWp of peak production per year.
The completion of the solar power plant at Kimberley Airport forms part of Airports Company South Africa’s broader plan to install solar farms at all its six regional. George, Kimberley and Upington Airport’s plants have already been completed and commissioned.
The other three remaining regional airports are: Port Elizabeth International Airport, East London Airport and Bram Fischer International Airport in Bloemfontein.
