Moshe Dikgetse’s job is to search out endangered plant life on land earmarked for solar projects in the Northern Cape; his green fingers make way for the future!
Northern Cape, South Africa (21 August 2023) – There are great stretches of land in the Northern Cape that are perfect for solar power generation, but before they can be built, Moshe Dikgetse gets to find all the plants that are endangered and need protecting; he then moves them to a safe location. He knows his job is vitally important and says that it contributes to the growing green economy in South Africa.
Moshe Dikgetse is an Environmental Officer with Unik Engineering for the ACWA Power Redstone Project. He braves extreme temperatures in both Summer and Winter to ensure that the plants in his care and the environment as a whole, thrive.
Working on the solar projects, he tends to as his “little babies”, as he affectionately calls the plants, and diligently ensures their protection, especially given the abundance of protected species in the area. He and fellow environmentalists are the first to set foot on virgin land earmarked for solar projects. They flag any fauna and flora within the area that needs attention, and if they can be moved to a conserved area, his green fingers make it happen.
The plant life in this region is resilient due to the harsh environment, so moving them isn’t a complex process. Moshe feels deeply connected to these plants, saying it feels as if they listen to him.
While Moshe’s priority is the environment, he sees a bright future for solar in South Africa. It creates employment opportunities within his community, uplifting his neighbours too. In the Northern Cape, employment opportunities are scarce, but installing these plants is creating new jobs for these outlying communities.
The solar plant where Moshe works is different from the rest. The ACWA Power’s Redstone thermal power plant stands in the arid landscape of the Northern Cape, where temperatures often reach an extreme 40-45 degrees. The plant is harnessing that unforgiving heat in a revolutionary way!
Using unique tower technology, a 250m high tower uses a receiver similar to a conventional boiler. Encircling the tower base, nearly a million square meters of mirrors reflect the sun’s light onto the receiver, which superheats molten salt to a remarkable 565 degrees. This energy then powers a steam turbine at the tower’s base, providing a cutting-edge, eco-friendly solution to energy production. At peak times, it can power around 200,000 homes.
So where Moshe’s beloved endangered plants thrive, so does this new power-generating technology. He has hope that both the plants and the solar plants can live harmoniously, side by side, absorbing all the sun has to offer and carving a new path for energy in South Africa.
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