A state of the art concentrating solar power (CSP) central receiver system uses mirrors to reflect sunlight to a tower where a working fluid is heated, then stored as thermal energy and ultimately converted to electricity in a steam turbine. A novel model is presented that predicts the performance of these plants suitably in an electricity system, within available means, to 7 % accuracy. The value of CSP was studied in various scenarios, demonstrating its potential and value leading to the 2030 timeframe. Dependent on many factors, a large CSP capacity allocation arguably benefits the South African electricity system significantly.