The facility consists of 1500 dual-axis CX-S530-II solar tracking systems divided into 60 sections.^[1] The 25 systems of each section are connected in parallel to a central grid-connected 630 kW inverter.^[2] Each system supports 12 CX-M500 modules which are each rated to produce 2450 W_p.^[5] Each module contains 2,400 fresnel lenses to concentrate sunlight 500 times onto multi-junction solar cells, allowing a greater efficiency than other photovoltaic power plants.^[6][7]

The facility is sited on 190 hectares near a similar 60 kW CPV pilot plant on the neighbouring Aquila private game reserve.^[2][8] Group Five Construction (Pty) Ltd served as the EPC contractor for the balance of the project.^{[9] [10]} It is the world's largest assembly of Soitec's Concentrix Solar technology.^[4][11]

Soitec initiated the project under the South African government's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer (REIPP) programme.^[12] Construction was financed with a US$100 million (R1 billion) bond special purpose vehicle (SPV) on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.^{[3][13] [14]} The project is owned by Soitec (20%); the Public Investment Corporation, which is the South African Government's employee pension fund (40% through a preferred share structure ); Pele Green Energy (Pty) Ltd (35%); and the Touwsrivier Community Trust (5%).^[3][15] Pele Energy also provides oversight of ongoing operation and improvement activities with a subsidiary of juwi Renewable Energies.^[3][10]

Like other similar solar projects in South Africa, a profit sharing and investment agreement exists with the local community whereby a share of the profits from the plant are invested in improving the town of Touws River. This includes the construction of a hydroponics farm employing 30 people and upgrades to the town's primary school.^[16] Ongoing maintenance and security operations at the plant also employ about 35 people.^[17][18]

Monthly capacity and production data for grid-connected photovoltaic plants in South Africa are available in aggregate from the Renewable Energy Data and Information Service.^[19] Data from individual plants is restricted due to Department of Energy confidentiality protocols.^[20] Annual electricity production for the Touwsrivier CPV plant has performed near expected targets for the first five years of operation (2015-2019) as summarized in this bond credit rating opinion from Moody's.

Note that the plant's 44 MW_p peak DC rating is specified under concentrator standard test conditions (CSTC) of DNI=1000 W/m², AM1.5D, & T_cell=25 °C, as per the IEC 62670 standard convention.^[21] Production capacity is 36MW based on IEC 62670 concentrator standard operating conditions (CSOC) of DNI=900 W/m², AM1.5D, T_ambient=20 °C, & Wind speed=2 m/s,^[5] and is also the value quoted by several sources as representing the plant's expected AC capacity (denoted as MW_AC).^{[3][9][10][19]} A capacity factor of 0.230 (23.0%) then corresponds to annual production of:

${\displaystyle (36\ {\mbox{MW}})\times (0.230\ )\times (365\ {\mbox{days}})\times (24\ {\mbox{hours/day}})=72,500\ {\mbox{MW·h}}}$ 

• List of power stations in South Africa
• Solar power in South Africa
• Environmental impact of solar power
• Sustainable energy

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• VIDEO: Touws River Upliftment - CPV1 Solar Power Plant
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• Large-scale and long-term CPV power plant field results