Energy from wind projects with a combined capacity of more than 6 000MW are currently at various stages of the environmental impact assessment process (EIA) in the Eastern Cape, placing the province at the forefront of wind renewable energy projects.
The total of 6 032MW is far greater than the Medupi coal-fired power station that is currently under construction and that will have an output of 4 788MW.
Nationally, wind projects totaling 9 345MW are planned.
Scattered across the Eastern Cape the largest proposed projects are in the Blue Crane Route Municipality where Terrra Wind plans a wind farm with a capacity of 1 713MW and another of 500MW at Cookhouse whilst Windlab Developments is planning to erect 350 turbines with a capacity of 700MW between Cookhouse and Bedford.
While most of the projects are in the western part of the Eastern Cape, others are also planned for Qunu, home of former President Nelson Mandela and Ngqamakwe.
Three of the projects are planned for the Coega Industrial Development Zone, with Electrawinds having already been issued with a Record of Decision (RoD) following an EIA for the erection of 25 turbines with a capacity of 74MW. Innowind has an ROD for 15 turbines as well given soon thereafter.
Electrawinds, which erected an initial turbine that was used to generate power for the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium during the 2010 World Cup, is one of the companies in the first stage of the bidding process that will pave the way for Independent Power Producers (IPP) to supply energy to the national grid.
The results of the bids for the first tranche of the 1 850MW of renewable energy earmarked for wind power will be announced during COP 17 between November 28 and December 9.
In addition, 7 000MW of solar power developments have also been announced, with Langa Energy having confirmed their investment in a 100MW photovoltaic facility at Berlin outside King William’s Town. Further EAB Astrum Energy another 13MW solar energy farm at Coega IDZ, is finalizing its Basic Assessment.
Coega Development Corporation (CDC) Business Development Manager Nkuli Mxenge-Mayende says given the volume of both wind and solar projects there is a “solid business case” for wind and solar technology component manufacturing in South Africa.
She points out that there is a “huge market” particularly for solar PV and Off-Grid Technologies adding that the South African Government is committed to reducing the country’s carbon footprint and “supports green technologies through various incentives”.
Mxenge-Mayende says the 7 000MW of solar power that is planned has increased the demand for localisation of solar PV panels.
She says the Coega IDZ is the “ideal manufacturing platform” for renewable energy components that, in addition to contributing to the battle against global warming, are revenue generating, create jobs and advance socio-economic development and transformation.
