Kalkbult Solar Power Plant — South Africa

Kalkbult Solar Power Plant is a 73.8 MW solar power plant in Northern Cape, South Africa. It is operated by Scatec Solar. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 31k homes (estimated). It ranks #99 of 152 South Africa power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2013, it is around 13 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 8.0% of South Africa's electricity; the national grid averages 699 gCO₂/kWh (17.8% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1026045.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000800158; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 73.8 MW, Kalkbult Solar Power Plant is well above the median solar plant in South Africa (66 MW). Technically it is described as PV. Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Share of South Africa solar capacity

3.0% of 2,490 MW across 44 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

1 of 37 dated solar plants in South Africa is older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest solar plants in South Africa

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Scatec Solar.

Local climate & thermal context

This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 31.7°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 36% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 35/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.0% at warm-season highs here (estimate).

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #21 largest solar power plant of 44 in South Africa by capacity.

South Africa has 44 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 2,490 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Karoo · Solar · 50.4 MW · Northern Cape
• Longyuan Mulilo De Aar Maanhaarberg Wind Energy Facility · Wind · 100 MW · Northern Cape
• De Aar - Mulilo Solar Power Plant · Solar · 11.1 MW · Northern Cape
• Mulilo Renewable Energy Solar PV De Aar · Solar · 9.7 MW · Northern Cape
• De Aar Solar Power · Solar · 45.6 MW · Northern Cape
• De Aar - Mainstream Solar Power Plant · Solar · 50 MW · Northern Cape

Location

Coordinates -31.727, 23.192 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions