Enel starts construction of 140 MW Eastern Cape wind farm

12th February 2019

By: Simone Liedtke

Creamer Media Social Media Editor & Senior Writer

     

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Italy’s Enel, through its renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power RSA (EGP RSA), has started construction of its 140 MW Nxuba wind farm in the Amatole district, making it the group’s third wind project in the Eastern Cape province.

The construction of Nxuba, which is expected to be completed by September 2020, will involve an overall investment of more than €200-million.

“Through the start of construction of the Nxuba wind farm, which is the first out of the five projects awarded to the company in South Africa’s 2015 renewable tender to begin construction, Enel confirms its commitment to grow and strengthen its presence in the country,” EGP head Antonio Cammisecra said in a statement on Tuesday.

Once fully up and running, Nxuba is expected to generate over 460 GWh/y, avoiding the emission of around 500 000 t/y of carbon dioxide (CO2).

The wind farm will be supported by a 20-year power supply agreement with Eskom, as part of the fourth bid window of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), which awarded in April 2015 a total of five wind projects for 700 MW to the Enel Group.

EGP RSA will employ innovative tools and practices to build Nxuba such as advanced digital platforms and software solutions to monitor and remotely support site activities and plant commissioning, digital tools to perform quality controls on site and smart tracking of wind turbine components.

These processes and tools will enable swifter, more accurate and reliable data collection, improving the quality of construction and facilitating communication between on-site and off-site teams, EGP said.

In addition, the company, with its local partners, has committed to ensure socioeconomic and enterprise development, preferential procurement, and job creation in the surrounding communities, involving local businesses as suppliers, providing free WiFi to communities in the area and holding wind technology training courses for locals.

EGP RSA also focused on education by supplying schools with clean energy through mini-photovoltaic systems, awarding scholarships to students and supporting a school feeding programme. 

The other projects awarded to EGP RSA in Round 4 of the REIPPPP tender are the 140 MW Oyster Bay wind farm, also in the Eastern Cape, as well as the 140 MW Garob, the 140 MW Karusa and the 140 MW Soetwater wind plants, all in the Northern Cape province.

Edited by Mariaan Webb
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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