First solar tower in South Africa completed by Abengoa

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Renewable energy technology developer Abengoa has completed construction of South Africa’s first solar tower.

The 50MW tower named Khi Solar One, is 205 metres tall and will be the first operating in South Africa, alongside Abengoa’s 100MW parabolic trough plant: KaXu Solar One, still under construction in the Northern Cape.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Khi Solar One is a super heated steam solar tower with two hours of thermal storage. Abengoa claims the tower is an innovative breakthrough in CSP technology by using higher temperatures and a more efficient cooling system, based on Abengoa's own research and development work. 

The project covers a 600 hectare site in the Northern Cape Province, near Upington.  

The project was realised with infrastructure financers the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and community group, Khi Community Trust.

More than 1,400 local construction jobs and 70 permanent operational jobs have been created by Khi Solar One and KaXu Solar One. 

Khi Solar One will save 183,000 tonnes of carbon a year, and a total of 498,000 tonnes of carbon will be omitted per year from both towers combined.

The towers aid South Africa’s Department of Energy in its goal to bring 17,800MW online from renewable sources by 2030, as part of South Africa's strategy for energy independence.

Read Next

August 6, 2025
The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has published the approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM) for solar cells, which contains 13GW of annual nameplate capacity across six manufacturers.
August 6, 2025
Renewables asset owner Brookfield Renewable has acquired 19.7% indirect equity stake in US regional energy utility Duke Energy’s Florida portfolio.
August 6, 2025
The first MW-scale floating solar project in the Philippines has come online, according to solar EPC contractor Black & Veatch.
August 6, 2025
Clean Energy Associates has warned its clients of a renewed danger of Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act enforcement against solar PV products under US president Donald Trump and secretary of state Marco Rubio.
Premium
August 6, 2025
PV Talk: LevelTen’s Andrés Acosta discusses how an oversupply of clean projects is shaping Europe’s PPA market.
August 6, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Scatec has secured BRL150 million (US$27 million) for its 142MW solar PV plant in Minas Gerais, Brazil. 

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK