SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEMS, MOGALAKWENA MINE The pilot plant consists of two solar tracking systems with 48 solar modules that follow the path of the sun
Since the €430 000 solar tracker pilot project was launched at platinum mining company Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats’) Mogalakwena mine, in Limpopo, in November last year, it has achieved impressive power generation.
The pilot plant consists of two solar-tracking systems with 48 solar modules that follow the path of the sun, highlighted green energy project developer GX Energy SA director Dr Michael Seeger when he provided an update on the project at a seminar at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), in Johannesburg last month.
He explained that Amplats had recognised the upside potential of renewable-energy use, particularly for future mining projects, which is why the platinum miner was trialling the solar tracker system at its Mogalakwena mine.
Amplats group energy engineer Gerhard van den Berg, speaking from the floor, explained that the mining industry required a physical showcase to demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of this new-generation solar technology, before it could be considered on a large scale.
“There is also a critical need to generate off-grid, independent power by mines, owing to South Africa’s current national electricity constraints,” Seeger added.
Wits School of Electrical and Information Engineering Dr Wesley Doorsamy during the seminar pointed out that, in the five months that the Mogalakwena plant had been in operation, it generated about 10 000 kWh of electricity, with an average daily yield of 67.6 kWh.
According to the data collected by Wits School of Electrical and Information Engineering, the system performed better than a standard horizontally fixed solar photovoltaic system would have, recording an average daily surplus yield of 7.9 kWh.
Seeger emphasised that the solar tracker plant had the potential to be a “game changer” for the energy constrained South African mining industry.
He explained that the technology used a unique feature of tracking the sun to ensure maximum energy generation for mining projects and operations.
The solar tracker was designed by German solar mounting solutions provider Ideematec and has a 25% higher energy yield than conventional ground-mounted solar systems.
The system has a total capacity of 11.52 kW, will generate 26 000 kWh a year and will result in carbon dioxide savings of 17.2 t/y.
Seeger highlighted that the pilot plant currently powered Mogalakwena mine’s main office block but could be scaled up significantly if multiple units were added to generate daytime power for the mine’s mineral processing plants and general operations.
The main sponsor of the project is the German Development Bank, which sponsors renewable-energy pilot plants to open new markets for innovative technology made in Germany.