Eskom explains Komati solar proof-of-concept won’t be connected to the grid

Eskom says its 500kW proof-of-concept (PoC) solar power plant at the now-decommissioned Komati Power Station was never intended to add generation capacity to the grid.

Instead, the solar plant was only ever intended to offset energy consumption at Komati Power Station’s facilities.

“The 500kW PV plant is not intended to deliver power to the grid, it will be used to electrify the station services building and associated security systems as well as the aquaponics systems,” said Eskom.

“The net effect of this plant is a minor offset of what we currently consume from the grid for all the Komati facilities.”

Regarding the Komati PoC’s progress, Eskom told MyBroadband that the plant is being commissioned.

“The existing Komati PoCs are planned to be reused for the Komati repurposing & repowering project which consists of various renewable technologies that include solar PV with battery storage and wind,” it said.

In a Pretoria High Court affidavit, De Ruyter said another renewable energy project at Komati, comprising a 150MW solar PV system, 70MW of generation from wind, and 150MW of battery storage, would add generation capacity to the system from 2023 onwards.

“Solar, wind, gas and storage projects are under development at nine stations. Solar and battery storage projects at Komati, Majuba and Lethabo and several other power stations are expected to connect to the grid in 2023, and will result in over 500MW being added to the system,” he said.

An Eskom Just Energy Transition fact sheet from October 2022 also suggests that the “renewable energy microgrids” at Komati will generate power for the grid.

André de Ruyter, former Eskom CEO

“The plans for Komati, to accommodate more than 200 full-time Eskom employees at the plant, include a manufacturing plant for mobile, renewable energy ‘microgrids’ and the generation of renewable energy, including the launch of a training facility where workers will be ‘reskilled’ for employment in the renewable energy sector,” it reads.

The fact sheet also highlights a memorandum of agreement between De Ruyter and CPUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Nhlapo for the upskilling and reskilling of Komati community members.

“We had two options. On the one hand, we could put a padlock on the gate and walk away and leave a community that has served Eskom and South Africa well for decades in the lurch,” De Ruyter wrote.

“Or we could make an alternative plan and make sure that we provide a new future and new horizon for the people of Komati and the surrounding area.”

The Komati pilot project represents a crucial step in Eskom’s Just Energy Transition, which seeks to gradually reduce its coal reliance in favour of cleaner energy sources.

Komati conversion delays hammered the small town

In July 2023, it was reported that delays in converting Komati to the planned wind and solar facility had taken a significant toll on the small Mpumalanga town’s economy.

Many Komati residents said they had observed a devasting economic downturn and increased unemployment due to the project’s slow progression.

A potential reason behind the economic downturn was the departure of Eskom’s Komati employees from the town, who had left to support and augment skills at other power stations.

Eskom assigned the remaining employees to participate in the Komati Repowering and Repurposing project. However, there was little work to be done at the time.

Eskom explained that the reason behind the slow progress was its challenges in securing funding for the project. It had received approval for a R9-billion loan facility from the World Bank and Eskom Board but was still awaiting other approvals.

“It is still awaiting final regulatory approval before becoming effective, which is expected to be in place by the end of July 2023,” Eskom said at the time.

“While waiting to address the financial challenges, we have continued with project development activities and progressed with the establishment of a training facility.”