South Africa: Hydro plant begins operation

The 10MW Neusberg run-of-river hydroelectric power plant has begun commercial operations on the Orange River in the Northern Cape. The project is owned by Hydro 1 SA, Hydro Tasmania South Africa, Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Ltd and a community trust funded by the Industrial Development Corporation. It was selected as a preferred bidder in REIPPP2, and construction began in June 2013. “Hydropower is one of the few renewable sources of baseload energy generation,” said Hydro Tasmania director for Southern Africa Christoff le Grange.