As part of its continuing effort to offer affordable, clean solar energy to consumers, SolarReserve also develops utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the U.S. and around the world.
North America PV Project Development:
In 2011, SolarReserve formed a joint venture with GCL Solar Energy, Inc. (GCL) to develop, build and operate solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities in North America. This joint venture, GCL-SR Solar Energy, LLC, holds more than 2,200 megawatts (MW) of PV development projects in its portfolio, primarily in the 5 MW to 20 MW size range proposed on more than 50 different sites secured across North America.
International PV Project Development:
Internationally, SolarReserve has over 3,000 MW of PV development projects in development in countries such as Chile, Peru, the MENA region, South Africa, and Turkey.
Lead PV Projects: South Africa
The joint venture of SolarReserve, the Kensani Group, an experienced empowered infrastructure player in the Southern African market, and Intikon Energy, a South African developer of renewable energy projects, have been awarded preferred bidder status by South Africa Department of Energy (DOE) for two 75 MW solar PV projects, Letsatsi and Lesedi, and one 88 MW solar PV project, the Jasper Solar Energy Project. The preferred bidder status provides the consortium with the right to proceed with executing the 20-year government-supported power purchase agreements with Eskom, the South African Power Utility. These three projects bring the consortium’s share of South Africa’s solar energy market to 20 percent.
The Letsatsi and Lesedi, solar projects will be built in the Free State and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa, with construction scheduled to commence by June 2012, and are two of the largest projects in the first round of awards. They will generate enough clean, renewable energy to power more than 50,000 homes in South Africa.
The Jasper Solar Energy Project, located in the Northern Cape of South Africa, is one of the two largest solar projects from the second round of bids, and is expected to begin construction in 2013. This additional award brings the successful consortium’s award to three projects totaling 238 MW.
The consortium is expecting to bid an additional 1,500 MW of PV projects in subsequent South Africa Department of Energy bid rounds.