https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Amakhala Emoyeni wind energy facility, South Africa

8th August 2014

  

Font size: - +

Name and Location
Amakhala Emoyeni wind energy facility, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Client
Cennergi, a joint venture between Exxaro and Tata Power, which 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%. Standard Bank has arranged the debt component.

Project Description
The 138 MW Amakhala Emoyeni wind energy project is 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.

The wind farm will be located near the town of Bedford, in the Eastern Cape.

The project will comprise 56 Nordex turbines, each with an estimated 80-m-hub height and an estimated capacity of 2.5 MW. The project, which is based on a ‘Class 3’ wind resource, is expected to have a capacity factor of about 35%.

Additional infrastructure includes underground power cables linking the turbines, access roads on the farms and a substation.

South African State-owned power utility Eskom will construct a 19 km 132 kV transmission line from the project’s substation to its substation, which is located adjacent to the project facility.

Value
The project is estimated at $352-million.

Duration
The project reached financial close in May 2013.

Construction of the project is expected to take 24 months and be complete by mid-2016.

Latest Developments
Work has officially started at the Amakhala Emoyeni wind farm.

Amakhala Emoyeni is spread across five sheep and cattle farms, which will continue with commercial operations during construction once all 56 turbines have been installed.

The turbines 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 industrial development zone, near Port Elizabeth. The foundations, civil and electrical work, as well as the project substation will also be sourced from local suppliers.

Much attention is being given to the logistics associated with moving the turbine components 201 km from the Port of Ngqura to Bedford. Most of the journey, or 184 km, will be on existing tarred roads, but 17 km will be on gravel. Abnormal-load vehicles will carry 336 turbine-component loads, 124 loads of tower components and 30 loads of anchor cages.

Activity on site is currently geared towards the construction of 35 km of roads required to facilitate construction and future operations.

The first 2.5 MW Amakhala Emoyeni wind turbine is expected to be erected by June 2015. The entire project should enter commercial operations by mid-2016.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
International Finance Corporation (loan finance), Hatch (owner’s engineer) and Nordex (wind turbines).

On Budget and on Time?
The project is slightly behind schedule, mainly as a result of delays associated with finalising the project’s connection to the Eskom substation, which is about 18 km from the site.

Contact Details for Project Information
Cennergi, tel +27 12 675 6655 or email comms@cennergi.com.
IFC, tel +1 202 473 3800 or fax +1 202 974 4384.
Hatch, tel +27 21 949 7836.
Nordex corporate communications, Ralf Peters, tel +49 4 300 30 1522, fax +49 40 300 30 1333 or email rpeters@nordex-online.com

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

John Thompson
John Thompson

John Thompson, the leader in energy and environmental solutions through value engineering and innovation, provides the following: design, engineer,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.55 0.606s - 159pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now