Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Peterson launched Lilitha Solar (formally known as Solar Capital De Aar 3) in the Northern Cape, the 17th solar photovoltaic plant in the province, with an inauguration event that took place during the last week of March 2016.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Joemat-Peterson noted that the inauguration marked the commercial operation of the 17th solar photovoltaic plant in the Northern Cape province, which is noted as the country’s mecca for the development of renewable energy sources.
The Minister said the commercial operation of the 75MW plant is a huge achievement in scaling up the deployment of renewable energy and in curbing the effects of climate change in South Africa.
She explained that the project produces enough power to supply approximately 49 525 average South African households with electricity each year – and that if the energy from Lilitha Solar was available directly to the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality only, it would have powered nearly all of its households.
Minister Joemat-Peterson said the Northern Cape offers some of the best conditions in the world for solar electricity generation.