Letsatsi Solar Farm visit in Bloemfontein
Nu Climate Vision alongside 350 Africa visited Letsatsi Solar Farm in Bloemfontein, on 19 July 2024. The purpose of the visit was to understand the technology behind solar,as a form of renewable energy, to build solidarity between the attending community based groups and also to have informed positions in regards to advocating for renewables.
The first part of the visit dwelled on the general safety protocols presentation from the Health and Safety Personnel Of the farm.This was followed by a powerpoint presentation by the company representatives in regards to the company’s ownership ,staff composition and leadership.
The presentation also took the attendees through reasonably simplified content of the technical aspects of the solar farm. This included content around (but not limited to) solar modules, solar strings, transformers,substations and transmission.
After a thorough question session between our team and the company representative, we were taken around the solar farm for a tour of the actual plant. A lot of information was shared , including how the efficiency of the solar panels are measured, managed and maintained. During the tour there was also mention of the relational impacts on Eskom (Power purchaser) and the solar farm (Power supplier) and the performance requirements and implications of the purchaser.
The last leg of the tour consisted of a walkaround to the operations room where the technician assessed the farm’s functionality and errors in production of the energy. This gave participants a clear understanding of how the solar farm worked; from production all the way to the end user.
This is sadly one of the oldest solar farms in South Africa referred to as Phase one, having been developed in 2013 and operations starting in 2014. This means the farm only runs during the day as it has no batteries and lastly the energy produced cannot be used, as it is all sold to the national power supplier Eskom.The staff also made the participants aware that there are new plants being built in South Africa which are more effective and sustainable than Letsatsi given the progress of technology over the last 10 years.These new farms as stated by the staff at Letsatsi have their own substation and can use the power they generate while also producing for national grid and lastly they produce all day as they have batteries too.
We want to thank the staff and management of Letsatsi Solar Farm and we look forward to a fruitful and educational relationship between them and our groups for future tours and induction visits.
By Brighton Phiri
