Globeleq Commissions South Africa’s Largest Wind Energy Project
The initiatives undertaken by the South African government through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers (RE-IPP) program have started to reap results now with the commissioning of the solar and wind energy projects auctioned during the first phase of the program in 2011.
After commissioning some large solar power projects under over the last few months, and entering the world’s top ten utility solar power markets, South Africa has started sourcing electricity from its largest wind energy project. The 138 MW Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm was allocated to a consortium, of which the developer Globeleq is a part, three years ago during the first phase auction of the RE-IPP.
The consortium consists of Globeleq as the majority stakeholder, Mainstream Renewable Power, Old Mutual, Thebe Investment Corporation, engineering firms Enzani Technologies and Usizo Engineering and the Amadla Omoya Trust. Globeleq, through its wholly owned South African subsidiary, manages the operation and commercial aspects of the wind and solar energy projects.
With the planned annual production of 460 GWh, it is expected Jeffreys Bay will avoid production of 420,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, and provide a source of renewable electricity for nearly 100,000 average South African households. The Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm was constructed by Siemens and a South African consortium of Murray & Roberts and Conco.
Mikael Karlsson, Globeleq’s CEO said: “The completion of these facilities is the result of a truly global partnership with the Government of South Africa and Eskom and the private sector of developers, investors, lenders, constructors, suppliers and the local community. It demonstrates significant support for independent private power producers in the region and indicates the sustainability of the renewable energy sector.”
In April of this year, the consortium successfully commissioned two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, also allocated under the first phase auction of RE-IPP program. The 50 MW PV De Aar Solar Power and 50 MW PV Droogfontein Solar Power facilities are both located in the Northern Cape.
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