There is currently 200 MW of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) in construction with a further 200 MW approved to begin construction this year, whilst another 200 MW is expected to be announced by June 2014.
The latest update to the draft IRP 2010-2030 Update Report 2013 advocated increasing the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) cap from the current allocation of 1,200 MW to 3,300 MW by 2030.
The March 2014 edition of the CSP Today Quarterly Update examines
- Why the allocation to CSP was increased when the allocation to other energy sources such as wind was reduced
- How storage has become a defining characteristic of the South African CSP landscape
- What to expect from upcoming bidding windows
Storage in South Africa is particularly suitable due to the two pronounced demand curves illustrated by the figure below. The two tier tariff system introduced last year encourages CSP developers to produce energy to meet the evening peaks – meaning that storage is essential for CSP plants in South Africa.
What is the Quarterly Update?
Developed directly from primary data listed on the CSP Today Global Tracker, this data based analysis of the industry is the perfect tool to further understand global market developments. The goal of the update is to provide clients with a succinct, informative and detailed breakdown of the biggest events in the past quarter. To achieve this we compare major CSP markets, highlighting which areas have experienced the greatest change over the past quarter and what this means for the industry going forward.
The March 2014 edition of the CSP Today Quarterly Update delves into the latest developments since December 2013. Currently there are 30 CSP-active markets listed on the CSP Today Global Tracker. Of these, 14 markets experienced significant changes over the past quarter – all of which are discussed in this edition.
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