Neusberg — South Africa
Hydro power plant in Northern Cape, South Africa. Approximate location -28.772, 20.7431.
HydroNorthern CapeSouth Africa
Neusberg is a 12.6 MW hydro power plant in Northern Cape, South Africa. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 13k homes (estimated). It ranks #133 of 152 South Africa power plants by installed capacity. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 0.8% 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 WRI1026017.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 12.6 MW, Neusberg is below the median hydro plant in South Africa (360 MW). Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of South Africa hydro capacity
- 0.6% of 2,020 MW across 6 plants in this dataset
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest hydro plants in South Africa
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 28.8°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 78% 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.
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 #5 largest hydro power plant of 6 in South Africa by capacity.
South Africa has 6 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 2,020 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Khi Solar Power Plant · Solar · 50 MW · Northern Cape
- Upington Solar Power Plant · Solar · 8.9 MW · Northern Cape
- Aries Solar Power Plant · Solar · 10.7 MW · Northern Cape
- Xina One · Solar · 100 MW · Northern Cape
- Konkoonsies Solar Power Plant · Solar · 86 MW · Northern Cape
- Konkoonsies II Solar Facility · Solar · 75 MW · Northern Cape
Location
Coordinates -28.772, 20.7431 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Neusberg?
Neusberg is a 12.6 MW hydro power plant in Northern Cape, South Africa.