Page 11 - Energize August 2021

NEWS

Wesley-Ciskei wind farm connected to the grid

he 34,5 MW Wesley-Ciskei wind farm, energy goals, having already completed four windfarms for the South African Renewable
situated near Hamburg in the Eastern Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), including the Waainek, Chaba
TCape, was recently connected to the and Grassridge projects, which contribute 107,1 MW to the grid.
grid, reports renewable energy developer
and operator, EDF Renewables. Technology
“We now have grid connection, so will Wesley-Ciskei wind farm comprises ten turbines supplying 34,5 MW AC. The technology employed
start hot-commissioning of the turbines and on the wind farm includes some of the largest turbines installed in South Africa, with a hub height
complete the reliability testing. After that of 117 m, and each blade being 63 m long, making each turbine stand 180 m tall.
we will prove grid code compliance, which “It was a big transportation challenge to navigate the South African road network with
will be verified, and thereafter we will start extremely heavy turbine components, and blades that are up to 63 m in length. These
commercial operations,” says the company’s components were delivered to Wesley-Ciskei and installed in two months,” commented Wlotzka.
project manager, Carl Wlotzka.
Built through the Covid-19 pandemic, Economic development
the project lived through the Level 5 The project has created numerous jobs and resulted in several key economic development
lockdown where it ceased all construction initiatives in the community, including an SMME development and upskilling programme. The
activities for eight weeks. “We also had objective was to assist approximately 50 SMMEs in the communities surrounding the project site
to implement strict Covid-19 health and in upskilling in health and safety, communication, financing and tendering. The project appointed
safety protocols upon re-opening of the site, SAICA ED to facilitate the programme.
which concentrated on a range of measures A bursary scheme also assisted two students in the local community to study at an institution
to combat the spread of the pandemic. of higher learning.
Fortunately, the project was not significantly During the pandemic’s hard lockdown, over 400 food parcels were delivered to the
delayed,” says Wlotzka. community and local businesses manufactured face masks and hand sanitisers for the site.
“Given the Covid challenges, we are The project is also the subject of an academic study by the University of the Free State to
extremely happy to have achieved this assess the socio-economic impact that the wind farm project has had on local communities,
milestone on the project. We are proud since it is the first renewable energy project under the REIPPP programme located in this former
to be playing a key role in contributing to homeland area in South Africa.
South Africa’s renewable energy goals and Phase 1 of the study developed a baseline of the area, while Phase 2 will measure the same
to the economic development of the Eastern indicators at the end of the construction phase in order to have a comparative effect.
cape region,” says Tristan De Drouas, the
company’s CEO. Click here for a time-lapse video showing construction of one of the tower bases.
EDF Renewables has contributed
significantly to South Africa’s renewable https://www.edf-re.co.za/portfolio/wesley-ciskei-wind-farm/

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