Name and Location
Sere wind power project, Western Cape, South Africa.

Client
Eskom.

Project Description
The project will involve the development of a wind farm, with an initial capacity of 100 MW, at Sere, near Koekenaap, in the Western Cape. It will comprise 46 turbines of 2.3 MW each, which will be positioned over a 16 km² area. The area will accommodate a 200 MW facility in the future.

Eskom modelling expects that the project will be able to produce 225 000 MWh/y from 2014, of which 202 500 MWh will be fed into the national grid. The balance will be used internally.

The project will be connected to the grid through the Skaapvlei substation at a voltage of 132 kV and into the existing Juno–Koekenaap distribution line.

The project is being developed under Eskom’s Renewable Energy Investment Project, through which it is hoped that similar projects will be undertaken by the utility and other independent power producers throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

The initial phase of the project is forecast to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4.7-million tons over the projected 20-year life of the plant.

Value
R2.4-billion.

Eskom CEO Brian Dames says the project’s costs compare favourably with the market. The levelised cost of the Sere plant compares favourably with the average of R1.14/kWh for the independent power producers procured in Phase 1 of the Department of Energy’s renewable-energy procurement programme and the 89.7 c/kWh procured in Phase 2, reflecting Eskom’s lower cost of capital. The total overnight cost of the Sere project, calculated at $2 516/kWh, is within the International Energy Agency benchmarks and incorporates grid connection costs, including a 45 km transmission line.

The project has been funded by a group of development finance institutions, including the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Clean Technology Fund and Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

Duration
The project is expected to deliver first power to the national grid in the first half of 2014, with full commercial operation scheduled for the end of the year.

Latest Developments
Powertech has won a bid to deliver a 132/11 kV substation for the Sere wind farm project. The value of the contract is R36-million.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
AfDB, World Bank, AFD, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank and the CTF (loan finance), Siemens (46 wind turbines) and Powertech (substation).

On Budget and on Time?
The construction of the Sere wind farm is expected to be completed by the end of 2013, but Eskom aspires to have the project completed much earlier than indicated.

Contact Details for Project Information
AFD South Africa, tel +27 11 540 7100, fax +27 11 540 7117 or email AFDJohannesburg@afd.fr.
AfDB, Kurt Lonsway, tel +216 7 110 3313 or email k.lonsway@afdb.org.
Eskom media desk, tel +27 11 800 3304/3309/3343/3378, fax +27 86 664 7699 or email mediadesk@eskom.co.za.
Eskom investor relations manager Khanyi Makhaya, tel +27 11 800 2277, fax +27 11 800 2043 or email investor.relations@eskom.co.za.
KfW project coordinator Stefanie Peters, tel +27 12 423 6357, fax +27 12 42 423 6360 or email kfw.pretoria@kfw.de.
Siemens energy sector Meike Wulfers, tel +49 40 2889 8702 or email
meike.wulfers@siemens.com.
Powertech communications manager Regula Niehus, tel +27 11 706 7184.