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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
SEPTEMBER
2016
ALTERNATIVE POWER SOLUTIONS
One such project, the ther-
mos-solar generating plant project,
known as Kathu Solar Park, is
currently underway near Upington
in the Northern Cape. Led by client GDF Suez,
the project has been implemented with a
consortium of partners and in conjunction
with the South African Department of Energy
(DOE). The scheme is expected to generate
around 1 200 new jobs during construction
phase and, as such, there is a considerable
need for the provision of high quality site
accommodation. Answering this call Kwik-
space Modular Buildings (Kwikspace), is set
to deliver over 2 000 m
2
of temporary site
camp accommodation.
Kathu is a 100 MW greenfield Concen-
trated Solar Power project that, equipped
with a molten salt storage system with para-
bolic troughs, has a thermal energy storage
capacity of four and a half hours. By allowing
for the collection and storage of excess solar
energy, this technology compensates for
the intermittent nature of solar energy. The
solar park, in partnership with Eskom, is set
to provide no less than 80 000 South African
households with solar energy and contribute
to a saving of six million tonnes of carbon
dioxide over the next 20 years.
The Kathu Solar Park project adds
to Kwikspace’s growing portfolio in the
renewable energy sector which includes the
successful delivery of site accommodation
to the Xina Solar One (CSP), a 100 MW
greenfield concentrating solar power (CSP)
project located in Poffadder in the Northern
Cape, and the installation of two solar
photovoltaic plants (PV) for Italy-based
TerniEnergia (Italeaf Group). Both schemes
are set to add additional capacity to Eskom’s
electricity grid.
Modular units for the Kathu project will
be manufactured in controlled factory envi-
ronments and assembled on site by teams of
experts including an erection team, electrical
team, plumbing team and a civils team. All
units will be assembled using fully insulated
polyurethane injected panels, which provide
temperature control and noise reduction far
superior to standard prefabricated panels.
The modular buildings will function as
offices, access control buildings, ablutions
and as a kitchen and diner. Additional
services such as a large U-shaped contrac-
tor’s office, complete with WiFi technology,
will also be supplied.
This system of modular construction
allows for rapid delivery, and modular units
can be erected in just 35 working days.
To further enhance efficiency, Kwikspace
offers a range of fit-out solutions. On the
Kathu project the company will also be
supplying 2,7 km of palisade fencing,
external electrical and plumbing reticulation,
a weighbridge, a septic tank, telecommunica-
tion facilities, a water conservancy tank and
electrical generators.
Comments Roberto Campos, Kwik-
space sales executive, “We’re excited to
be supporting renewable energy projects
that will see a way forward to assisting in
South Africa’s energy crisis. Kwikspace is a
leading designer, manufacturer and erector
of prefabricated buildings for deployment in
sub-Saharan Africa and has been accom-
modating clients in the oil and gas industry,
power generation, construction, mining and
government sectors for over 40 years. With its
extensive expertise, and factories throughout
the country, Kwikspace is perfectly posi-
tioned to address a wide range of site accom-
modation requirements.”
Stringent health and safety regulations
are enforced on-site and the client has placed
significant importance on ensuring that
anyone coming into contact with their works
returns home safely at the end of the working
day. Kwikspace has made a significant effort
to moderate its activities to comply with
these requirements. By reducing the amount
of man hours spent on a live construction
site, the off-site construction methods
utilised by Kwikspace offer further health and
safety benefits.
creates construction opportunities
SOLAR ENERGY BOOST
In order to address the
energy crisis in South
Africa the government is
committed to pursuing
alternative energy sources
for the provision of the
country’s future energy
requirements.
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