ABB, the power and automation technology group, are to construct two solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants for Eskom.

The pilot plants, each one hectare in size, are to be located on greenfield sites adjacent to the coal-fired power stations at Lethabo in the Free State and Kendal in Mpumalanga. They will be the first of their kind in SA.

At the Kendal power station ABB will provide a fixed tilt solar PV power plant with a capacity of 620kilowatts and production potential of 11million kilowatt hours a year.

At the Lethabo site the installation will comprise a single-axis tracking solar PV power plant with a peaking capacity of 575 kilowatts and a production potential of over 12 million kilowatthours a year.

"ABB is proud to provide their world-class technology for these pilot PV projects," said Carlos Pone, country manager of ABB in SA.

The plants will operate independently to produce power for the existing power stations and are set for completion by November.

"These orders will afford ABB in SA with the opportunity for transfer of skills in solar technology, Pone said.