Konkoonsies Solar Power Plant — South Africa
Solar power plant in Northern Cape, South Africa. Approximate location -28.889, 19.5553.
SolarNorthern CapeSouth AfricaPV
Konkoonsies Solar Power Plant is a 86 MW solar power plant in Northern Cape, South Africa. It is operated by Juwi Renewable Energies (Pty) Ltd. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 37k homes (estimated). It ranks #83 of 152 South Africa power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2014, it is around 12 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 WRI1026049.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 86 MW for Konkoonsies solar farm, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000800181; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 86 MW, Konkoonsies 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
- 3.5% of 2,490 MW across 44 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 4 of 37 dated solar plants in South Africa are 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 Juwi Renewable Energies (Pty) Ltd.
Local climate & thermal context
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 28.9°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 77% 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: 21/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.7% 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 #8 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
- Konkoonsies II Solar Facility · Solar · 75 MW · Northern Cape
- Xina One · Solar · 100 MW · Northern Cape
- Neusberg · Hydro · 12.6 MW · Northern Cape
- Aries Solar Power Plant · Solar · 10.7 MW · Northern Cape
- Khi Solar Power Plant · Solar · 50 MW · Northern Cape
- Loeriesfontein 2 · Wind · 140 MW · Northern Cape
Location
Coordinates -28.889, 19.5553 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Konkoonsies Solar Power Plant?
Konkoonsies Solar Power Plant is a 86 MW solar power plant in Northern Cape, South Africa, commissioned in 2014.
Who operates Konkoonsies Solar Power Plant?
Konkoonsies Solar Power Plant is operated by Juwi Renewable Energies (Pty) Ltd.