On February 2nd, 2012 BrightSource Energy Inc. (Oakland, California, U.S.) announced that Sasol Ltd. (Johannesburg, South Africa) has selected its power tower concentrating solar power (CSP) technology for an engineering and design study for the South African market.

Sasol and partner Alstom SA (Levallois-Perret, France) will conduct the front-end engineering and design (FEED) study, which it will use to determine how to best deploy CSP technology in the markets it serves.

”Sasol looks forward to the completion of the FEED study by one of the world’s leading CSP technology providers," states Sasol New Energy Managing Director Henri Loubser.

"South Africa is blessed with an abundance of a natural energy source in the form of sunlight. This CSP project has the potential of significantly expanding Sasol’s new energy portfolio and will in turn contribute to the country’s transition to a low carbon economy."


South Africa to add 3.72 GW of renewables by 2016

BrightSource notes that the South African Department of Energy's independent power procurement program currently plans to add 3.72 GW of renewable energy by 2016, and that South Africa's growing economy will intensify the need for new power sources.

The company also notes that South Africa currently meets more than 85% of its electricity demand with coal-fired generation.

2012-02-04| Courtesy: BrightSource Energy | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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