SMA supplies inverters for one of the first large-scale PV power plants in Africa

One of the first large-scale PV power plants in Africa is scheduled to become operational in spring 2013. SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA) will deliver a total of 84 Sunny Central 800CP inverters for the 75 Megawatt PV project Kalkbult in the north west of South Africa. With 42 Transformer Compact Stations SMA also realizes the medium-voltage solution for the connection to the grid. Additionally 840 Sunny String Monitors for string monitoring in the PV field are going to be delivered from the German Niestetal to South Africa.

The multimegawatt project is carried out by the Norwegian company Scatec, supplier of photovoltaik solar energy solutions, in one of the sunniest regions of the earth. The project is realized within the scope of the first round of the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programs. On an area of approximately 140 football pitches 145 million kilowatt hours sunpower are going to be produced. This equates to the energy demand of about 35,000 South African households.

„SMA was awarded the contract because we could convince in the selection procedure with our focus on the Levelized Costs of Electricity (LCOE) and our local presence in South Africa”, says Joseph Mashao, Managing Director of SMA South Africa. „The collective experience of Scatec and SMA on a global scale convinces the South African national authorities that the PV project will be a great success and a real flagship project.”

Several demanding stress tests and the global use of SMA central inverters have impressively proven their special suitability for the demanding climatic challenges in South Africa. In the Northern Cape Region where the PV project Kalkbult is realized, especially the SMA inverter capacity under extremely hot conditions is of fundamental importance. This region is one of the world’s ten most sunniest regions with extremely hot temperatures.

 

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of €1.7 billion in 2011 and is the global market leader for solar inverters, a key component of all PV plants  and, as an energy management group, offers innovative key technologies for future power supply structures. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented internationally in 21 countries. The Group employs more than 5,500 people worldwide. SMA’s broad product portfolio includes a compatible inverter for every type of module on the market and for all plant sizes. The product range includes both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. SMA is therefore able to provide ideal technical inverter solutions for all plant sizes and types. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company, SMA Solar Technology AG, has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for excellence as an employer and achieved first place in the nationwide “Great Place to Work®” competition in 2011 and 2012.


SMA Solar Technology AG
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Presse@SMA.de

Press contact:
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Presse@SMA.de
 
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Fax +49 561 9522-2223
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