CSP Push for CSP with storage in SA Despite the high cost and relative immaturity of concentrated solar power (CSP), South Africa is emerging as one of the global focus areas for this technology because the country has one of the best solar resources on the planet suited to it. F or CSP (as well as concentrated photovoltaics (CPV)) the key parameter is direct normal irradiance (DNI). This is in comparison with global horizontal irradiance (GNI) which is more relevant for conventional photovoltaics. While the vast tracts of northern and Saharan Africa have outstanding GNI, that region’s overall figures for DNI are less impressive. Though some locales such as parts of Morocco do have excellent DNI, much of that overall region has challenges of dust and attenuation. In general, high elevation areas have higher DNI due to less absorption and scattering of sunlight. Rainfall and cloud cover affect DNI, so arid or semi-arid areas with clear skies are best. The best DNI typically lies at latitudes from 10 O to 40 O North or South. Closer to the equator the atmosphere is usually too cloudy and wet in summer, and at higher latitudes the weather is usually too cloudy. Such factors favour the western parts of Chairperson of the Southern Africa Solar Thermal and Electricity Association (Sastela), Ayanda Nakedi, who is also senior general manager at Eskom’s renewable energy unit. Big contracts, certainty and longer term PPAs would result in cheaper tariffs for CSP. southern Africa over most other parts of the world for CSP. Almost all of South Africa has better DNI figures than Spain, one of the early drivers of the CSP sector. Parts of western South Africa and the country of Namibia have DNI ranging from 2,400 to 2,800 kWh/m 2 /year or better. That contributes to CSP featuring strongly in a contest with photovoltaics in this part of the world. Chairperson of the Southern Africa Solar Thermal and Electricity Association (Sastela), Ayanda Nakedi, who is also senior general manager at Eskom’s renewable energy unit, says, “We want to encourage the CSP industry in South Africa to agree to do storage.” Sastela has lobbied for CSP to be included in South Africa’s energy mix, and there have been allocations in every round of the country’s renewable energy independent power producer programme (REIPPP) to date. Three CSP projects are under construction from the first two Parabolic trough solar thermal electric plant. ESI AFRICA ISSUE 2 2014 73