Name and Location
MetroWind Van Stadens wind farm project, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Client
The project is being developed by Rubicept, a special purpose project company established to develop, operate and maintain the wind farm, which is supported by Old Mutual, Basil Read Energy, Afri-Coast Engineers, Spilled Water Renewable Energy and the Metrowind Community Trust.

Project Description
The project entails the construction and operation of a 27 MW wind farm, 30 km west of Port Elizabeth, on the farm Klein Rietfontein, at the south-western extremity of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.

The wind farm will feature nine 3 MW turbines, each with a hub height of 90 m and three 56.5 m blades.

The project will offset 80 000 t/y of carbon dioxide and water.

In 2011, Metrowind Van Stadens and 27 other wind and solar projects were named as the preferred bidders during the first bid window under the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.

Value
R550-million.

Duration
Construction has begun and the project is scheduled for operation in February 2014.

Latest Developments
Following the installation of three of its nine Sinovel SL3000 3 MW wind turbines, the MetroWind Van Stadens wind farm project is on schedule to begin cold commissioning in October.

This phase will involve extensive testing of individual components of the turbines and power generation system prior to the delivery of power to the grid from February 1, 2014.

Basil Read subsidiary Basil Read Energy, a 23% project shareholder in the project, said at a recent site visit that the first two sections of the remaining six turbines had been installed and that all civil works on site had been completed. This included roads, nine turbine platforms, the main control building and a storeroom.

In addition, Basil Read, which was awarded the project’s R475-million engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, noted that the electrical reticulation of the farm was close to completion and the transformers were being delivered and installed.

The primary NMBM switchgear has also been delivered to site and is being tested.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Basil Read Matomo (EPC), Sinovel Wind Group (turbines) and 3Energy (operation and management of wind farm).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
Metrowind Van Stadens wind farm, tel +27 41 505 8000, fax +27 41 585 3437 or email info@metrowind.co.za.
Sinovel Wind Group, tel +8610 62515566, fax +8610 82500072 or email ibd@sinovelwind.com.
Basil Read Matomo, tel +27 11 218 3800, fax +27 11 684 1382 or email enquiry@brmatomo.co.za.
3Energy, tel +27 21 300 9922.