Green Collaboration Accelerates South Africa’s Energy Transition

The 100-megawatt Redstone Concentrated Solar Thermal Power project in South Africa’s Northern Cape province is making significant strides in advancing the country’s energy transition. Li Quanxiang, project manager, described the project’s solar power tower, which uses molten salt for energy storage. The tower, nearly 250 meters tall, converts solar energy into thermal energy and subsequently into electrical power, contributing to South Africa’s renewable energy goals.

Developed by SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of PowerChina, this is the first molten salt solar thermal project in sub-Saharan Africa. It has a designed capacity of 100 megawatts and is expected to supply 480 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, powering around 200,000 South African households. Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul highlighted the project’s strategic importance for South Africa’s energy transition and its role in local economic development, having created over 600 direct jobs and employed up to 1,800 workers during construction.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the project’s engineering quality and technological advancements during his visit, emphasizing the benefits it will bring to the South African people. This project exemplifies the deepening energy cooperation between China and South Africa.

In addition to solar energy, South Africa is also exploring its vast wind power potential, with over 80 percent of its territory suitable for wind power development. Chinese company Goldwind has been active in South Africa since 2015, building and operating two wind power projects in the Eastern Cape province, supplying green electricity to 155,000 households annually.

The De Aar wind power project in the Northern Cape, developed by China’s Longyuan Power, is another milestone in this cooperation. It is Africa’s first wind power project invested, built, and operated by a Chinese power company. The project comprises 163 wind turbines and generates 760 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, supporting thousands of South African households.

The De Aar project, a key initiative under the Belt and Road Initiative, promotes local economic and social development while preserving the ecological balance through sustainable practices. “The De Aar wind power project is a flagship project showcasing win-win cooperation between South Africa and China in the new energy sector,” said Cedric Thomas Frolick, house chairperson for committees at the National Assembly of South Africa.

Looking forward, Chen Xiaodong, former Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, predicted that new energy cooperation would become a significant growth area in China-South Africa economic relations. He highlighted the strong complementary advantages of the two countries in the new energy sector, paving the way for a robust partnership in their economic and social transformation.

Paul Zilungisele Tembe, a South African expert on Chinese affairs, emphasized that these energy projects exemplify high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and demonstrate the deepening relationship between the two countries. He noted that China has invested over $25 billion in South Africa, creating more than 400,000 jobs, and expressed optimism about the future of their comprehensive strategic partnership.