The 80 MW Noupoort wind farm, in the Northern Cape, has been declared officially operational by Umsobumvo municipality district mayor Mzwandile Toto, following the completion of construction and the plant’s connection to the Eskom grid earlier in the year.
Located 10 km east of the Karoo town of Noupoort, the new R1.9-billion facility spans 7 500 ha and comprises 35 wind turbines, which stand 99 m in height.
Construction started in May 2015 and the wind farm will generate 304 800 MWh yearly. It entered commercial operation on July 11, 2016.
The project has been developed by a consortium comprising Lekela Power, which is a joint venture between Actis and Mainstream Renewable Power, the Noupoort Community Trust, which owns a 5% share in the wind farm, the Thebe Investment Corporation, the IDEAS Managed Fund, Futuregrowth Asset Management and Genesis Eco-Energy, in partnership with Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital.