Mooi Plaats Solar PV Plant: A Significant Step in Renewable Energy for Mining
The Mooi Plaats Solar PV Plant is an integral part of the Koruson 2 renewable energy cluster, jointly developed by Envusa Energy—formed by EDF Power Solutions and Anglo American—and constructed by CEEC/CGGC as the EPC contractor.
Location and Purpose
Situated near Noupoort in the Northern Cape, this solar plant will supply renewable electricity to Anglo American’s mining operations in South Africa, including Kumba Iron Ore and De Beers, contributing to the company’s decarbonization and energy resilience goals.
Challenging Environment Solutions
Vikas Bansal, CEO of GameChange Energy, highlighted the harsh conditions of the Northern Cape, which include high winds, elevated temperatures, and dusty environments that challenge tracker design and construction. The selected Genius Tracker 1P system is engineered to ensure reliable performance and efficient installation under these demanding conditions.
Project Impact
The plant is expected to generate approximately 360 million kWh of renewable energy annually, significantly reducing Scope 2 emissions from mining operations. Furthermore, during its construction, the project supported over 1,600 jobs and invested around R20 million in socio-economic development for local communities.
Collaboration and Coordination
Hanli Smit, Head of Execution at Envusa Energy, emphasized the complexity of coordinating among various stakeholders and technologies for a project of this scale, underscoring their partnership with GameChange Energy during the tracker installation phase.
About GameChange Energy
GameChange Energy is a global leader in energy infrastructure, providing a comprehensive suite of solutions including solar trackers, fixed-tilt mounting systems, and more for utility-scale renewable energy applications. Their innovations aim to reduce risk and enhance performance for clean energy infrastructure globally.
For more details, visit GameChange Energy.
