Work has officially started at Cennergi’s R3.5-billion Amakhala Emoyeni wind farm, located near Bedford, in the Eastern Cape.
The 138 MW project was among the 19 renewable-energy and seven wind projects selected following the second bid window under the South African government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). It reached financial close in May last year.
Cennergi, which is a JV between Exxaro and Tata Power, purchased the rights to the project from Windlab in 2011. The company owns 95% of the project, with the Cookhouse Community Trust owning 2.5% and the Bedford Community Trust the remaining 2.5%.
Amakhala Emoyeni is spread across five sheep and cattle farms, which will continue with commercial operations during construction and once all 56 turbines have been installed.
The turbines themselves are being supplied by Nordex, of Germany. But the project will also incorporate 50.4% local content, including some towers, which will be supplied by DCD Wind Towers’ new facility at the Coega IDZ, near Port Elizabeth. The foundations, civil and electrical work, as well as the substation will also be sourced from local suppliers.
Construction of 35 km of internal roads required to facilitate construction and future operations is the current focus.
The company should have 2 000 MW of renewables and conventional power-generation capacity in place by 2020, with the bulk of that in South Africa and the balance in Mozambique, Botswana, Ghana and Kenya.
The first 2.5 MW Amakhala Emoyeni wind turbine is expected to be erected by June 2015 and the entire project should enter commercial operations by mid-2016.
By: Terence Creamer
Read the full article here: http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/work-officially-under-way-at-cennergis-138-mw-bedford-wind-project-2014-07-31
