South Africa: SunPower begins construction of solar plant

Nasdaq-listed SunPower Corporation has begun construction of its 75MW (86MWp) Prieska solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Northern Cape province. The project was selected in the third round of the renewable energy independent power producer procurement (REIPPP) programme and is expected to begin full operation in 2016. Solar panels are being supplied by Sunpower Manufacturing Ltd and inverters by SMA Power One. South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Nedbank and ABSA Bank are providing debt financing.