Eastern Cape wind turbine connected to grid
24-May-2010
Source: Engineering News

Electrawinds Africa project developer Emil Unger told Engineering News Online that the project, which was the first of a larger 25-turbine farm, would be officially opened by the end of May.

The 1,8-MW turbine would produce electricity for the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium during the 2010 FIFA World Cup - free of charge.

The independent power producer used a purpose-built R70-million crane from Vanguard to erect the wind turbines.

Belgium-based Electrawinds has invested R1,2-billion in the project, and each of the 25 wind turbines would have a capacity of 1,8 MW, which translates into an annual yield of 5,7-million kilowatt hours, which was said to be enough energy to power about 1 700 households.

Completion of the project was scheduled for 2011, and, once completed the wind farm would supply the NMBM with about 45 MW of green energy.

The electricity generated by the wind farm would be fed into the national grid and would be distributed by NMBM to households within the area.

Electrawinds was in the process of completing a power-purchase agreement under the ‘willing seller, willing buyer' model. The name of the buyer would be disclosed shortly, as soon as the agreements were finalised, Unger said.