Name and Location
Jeffreys Bay onshore wind farm project, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Client
The Jeffreys Bay Wind farm is owned by a consortium, comprising Globeleq, Mainstream Renewable Power, Old Mutual Life Assurance Company, Thebe Investment Corporation, Jeffreys Bay Community Trust, Enzani Technologies and Usizo Engineering.
Project Description
The project was among the preferred bidders for the provision of wind power, announced by the Department of Energy, following the first bid window under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme.
The project proposes the construction of a 138 MW onshore wind farm near Jeffreys Bay, in the Kouga municipal area of the Eastern Cape. The project will use wind turbines, with a combined maximum generating capacity of 180 MW, and will produce 460 000 MWh/y.
The project will comprise 60 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 2.3 MW, and a rotor diameter of 101 m.
The project will avoid carbon dioxide emissions of 420 000 t/y and will have water savings of about 871-million litres a year.
Value
R3.17-billion.
Duration
The wind farm is scheduled to start producing electricity in mid-2014.
Latest Developments
Ten of the project’s wind turbines have been connected to State-owned power utility Eskom’s grid, supplying 23 MW of power.
Jeffreys Bay wind farm GM Mark Pickering says the project’s substation has been energised.
To date, 65% of the 138 MW project’s 60 wind turbines have been erected and the transportation programme, through which components are transported to the site from the Port of Ngqura, located 20 km from Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape, will soon draw to an end.
Meanwhile, the final turbine foundation was completed during the first week of December, while the company also achieved one-million lost-time injury-free hours.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
Mainstream Renewable Power (financier), Siemens Southern Africa (delivery, installation, commissioning and maintenance of wind turbines), Murray and Roberts Construction (engineering and contracting services) and Consolidated Power Projects (civil and electrical work).
On Budget and on Time?
The project remains on schedule to start commercial operations in May 2014 and is still within budget.
Contact Details for Project Information
Globeleq, tel +44 20 7 234 5400, fax +44 20 7 234 5486 or email info@globeleq.com.
Siemens Southern Africa media relations, Hulisani Nemaxwi, tel + 27 11 652 267 or email hulisani.nemaxwi@siemens.com.
Mainstream Renewable Power South Africa project manager Kevin Foster, tel +27 21 657 4040, fax +27 21 671 5665 or email kevin.foster@mainstreamrp.com.
Thebe Investment Corporation, tel +27 11 447 7800, fax +27 11 447 5502 or email info@thebe.co.za.
Enzani Technologies, tel +27 11 835 1880, fax +27 11 835 1885 or email info@enzani.co.za.
Usizo Engineering, tel +27 11 609 7560 or fax +27 11 609 7518.
Murray & Roberts Construction, tel +27 11 456 6200, fax +27 11 455 2222 or email info@murrob.com.
Consolidated Power Projects, tel +27 11 805 4281 or fax +27 11 805 1132.