Wind energy producer Innowind has tasked Vestas to install thirty-five V112 3.0 MW wind turbines at its three wind power projects in the Eastern Cape.

The 105 MW order, Vestas’ largest to date, comprises the supply, installation and commissioning of seven turbines at the Chaba wind power project, as well as eight turbines at the Waainek project and 20 at the Grassridge project.

Innowind, the 80%-owned South African subsidiary of French Electricité de France Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN), led the project development consortium comprising the Industrial Development Corporation and various regional broad-based black economic-empowerment companies.

The three wind power plants, construction of which will start in the third quarter of 2013, are expected to produce more than 375 GWh/y of energy collectively, enough to power more than 240 000 households.

The turbine delivery for the wind projects is planned to start mid-2014, followed by commissioning in the third quarter of the year.

The contract also includes the installation of VestasOnline Business’s Scada solution, the full-scope civil and electrical works and a ten-year full-scope service agreement.

“It is a pleasure for us to announce another large order for South Africa and to construct our first wind power project together with Innowind – all the more so in connection with a project company jointly owned by EDF EN Group, which is a long-term and highly valued Vestas customer,” says EDF EN Group VP for industry Jean-Philippe Salomé.

This follows Exxaro and Tata Energy joint venture company Cennergi’s July order for the supply, installation and commissioning of 31 wind turbines at the Tsitsikamma commu- nity wind farm, also in the Eastern Cape.

Vestas expected to deliver the first turbines during the second quarter of 2015 and commission the project by the first quarter of 2016.

In June, Aurora Wind Power, a joint venture between GDF SEZ, Investec and Kagiso Investment, ordered forty-seven V90-2.0 MW turbines for delivery at its Western Cape-based wind project during the third quarter of 2014.