Sustainable power generation in Africa
The average daily solar radiation in most African countries makes Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) one of the most attractive renewable energy solutions to ensure a secure supply of clean electricity to power economic and infrastructure growth on the continent.
For example, Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) values of up to 2,900 kWh/m2a are not unusual in some areas in South Africa. Until 2020, the market for solar thermal power plants will show annual double-digit growth rates and attain a volume of over EUR 20 billion, with two of the primary focal growth regions being South Africa and North Africa.
Head of Head of Solar and Hydro for Siemens Southern Africa, John Hazakis says the roll-out of CSP in South Africa and the rest of Africa is not only good for ensuring a sustainable source of electricity, it also offers huge potential for job creation and localisation. He cautions however that to create a sustainable industry, more capacity needs to be allocated to CSP technology to ensure that the necessary investments can be made in local manufacturing and skills development.
Solar power generation is not a new concept for the company. Besides being the first steam turbine supplier to re-enter the CSP market in the 21st century; with the acquisition of Solel in 2009, Siemens can now offer its customers high-efficiency receiver technology and comprehensive expertise in the engineering and construction of solar fields. Solar power plants are also part of the company’s environmental portfolio.
Siemens CSP power plants are very much like a standard power plant, with an energy source, steam, and conversion of thermal power to electricity. In these plants the energy source is sunlight, focused by parabolic mirrors onto solar receivers located in the focal line of the parabolas. The entire parabola moves to track the sun and maximize the collection of solar energy. A fluid, typically a synthetic oil, flows through the receivers as a heat transfer medium. In the process the fluid is heated and its energy is transferred via a heat exchanger to water. The steam thus produced is used to generate electricity in a steam turbine-generator.
The enormous prospects for solar power in South Africa and the rest of the continent is one of the reasons why Siemens participated at the recent CSP Today South Africa 2012, the first Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Conference and Expo which took place from 7 to 8 February in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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