The Northern Cape-based Loeriesfontein Wind Farm has been making use of a mobile transformer to allow for an early connection to the grid for the commissioning of the turbines – a temporary solution until the wind farm can connect to the Helios substation, which is the permanent grid connection.
Project developer Mainstream Renewable Power country construction manager Kevin Foster explains the role of the transformer as twofold: it provides temporary power supply to the project, mitigating the risk of the Eskom transmission being delayed, and it allows for Loeriesfontein wind farm to undergo early grid code testing.
Ultimately, this will increase the chances of Loeriesfontein commencing with operations early, ahead of the commercial operating date.
“We have worked very closely with Eskom to supply and operate the mobile transformer, which is typically used by the [State-owned power] utility to temporarily connect to substations during maintenance or unplanned shutdowns to allow continued use of substations. Mobile transformers are not normally used to connect wind farms to the distribution system,” explains Foster.
Energisation of the Helios substation is on track for August 15, at which point the Loeriesfontein Wind Farm will be able to commence with final grid code testing before commercial operations get under way.
Solar energy equipment supplier Conco is responsible for the electrical component of the balance of plant works, including the engineering, procurement and construction of the medium-voltage collector system, the substation, the overhead line connection and the temporary transformer.
The Loeriesfontein and Khobab wind farms, which are expected to be operational by December, are part of Round 3 of the South African government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. Both projects’ construction and operations are managed by Mainstream Renewable Power South Africa.