Page 23 - Energize August 2022

NEWS

Another wind farm connects

to the national grid

An additional 147 MW of capacity is added to the national grid as
Enel Green Power South Africa’s Soetwater wind farm achieves
commercial operation.

oetwater wind farm, which is located in a remote part of the Karoo Hoogland Local
Municipality in the Northern Cape, will be able to generate 585 GWh every year,
Spotentially averting the emission of approximately 600 000 t of CO2 into the atmosphere
annually. The wind farm features Vestas V136-4.2 MW wind turbines, the largest on the African based schools, equipment to upgrade the
continent to date. sports facility and the provision of medical
Awarded to Enel Green Power in April 2013 as part of round four of South Africa’s supplies for the only clinic in Sutherland
Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), the wind have been earmarked for implementation
farm is supported by a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with South African energy utility during the third and fourth quarters of the
provider, Eskom. 2022/2023 financial year.
Soetwater wind farm brings the number of EGP RSA wind farms in operation up to seven, Battisti says EGP RSA’s work at
and includes Nojoli (88 MW), Oyster Bay (140 MW), Nxuba (140 MW), Garob (140 MW) and Soetwater was completed without any
Karusa (147 MW). zero lost-time incidents. “At Soetwater,
Collectively, the renewable energy supplier now has 12 operational wind and solar projects we provided training for employees on
in South Africa. With these projects now in operation, the business has an overall installed more than 30 different health, safety and
capacity of 1,2 GW. environment (HSE) topics to ensure a safer
Manuele Battisti, Country Manager of EGP RSA, says construction of the facility, which working environment.
involves a €200-million (about R3,5-billion) investment in South Africa, commenced in “Safety is incredibly important to the
September 2019. business, and we pride ourselves on our
“The construction process was hampered at times by stop/start delays in response to safety record. Not only did the women and
Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions. The hard lockdown in 2020 – in particular – resulted men who worked on the site consistently
in difficulties relating to the transportation of people between provinces, as well as the comply with existing safety procedures and
transportation of experts and commissioning teams from other parts of the world. This protocols, they had to embrace a whole
highlights, all the more, what a significant achievement this is for both the project team and new set of protocols relating to Covid-19,”
the country,” he adds. he concludes.
EGP RSA is committed to playing a crucial role in helping the country solve its energy crises
using renewable energy solutions. It also employs local staff and hires local contractors in the About Enel Green Power
construction process, with the aim of promoting meaningful socio-economic and enterprise Enel Green Power, within the Enel Group,
development. At the peak of the construction phase, the project employed 1160 people. develops and operates renewable energy
plants worldwide and is present in Europe,
As part of its Creating Shared Value initiative, EGP RSA has assisted underserved communities the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
in close proximity to the wind farm in the following ways: A world leader in clean energy, with a
• An educational support programme, which included the installation of twelve interactive total capacity of more than 54 GW and a
smartboards for Roggeveld Primary School and Sutherland High School, both located in generation mix that includes wind, solar,
Sutherland, the closest town to the wind farm. geothermal and hydroelectric power, as
• To offset the devastating impact of the nationwide lockdown on vulnerable communities, well as energy storage facilities, Enel Green
EGP RSA donated food relief parcels to approximately 200 families made up of women, Power is at the forefront of integrating
children and the elderly. The initiative was undertaken in close consultation and support of innovative technologies into renewable
the Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality. energy plants.
• In partnership with local municipalities, EGP RSA donated close to 1,1 t of wooden pallets
to local community members and organisations, which will be used for recreational, Contact Enel Green Power South Africa,
housing and educational purposes. Phone 010 344-0200,
egprsa.bd@enel.com,
Notably, additional projects such as community leadership training, youth skills development, https://www.enelgreenpower.com/
a drug and substance awareness campaign, further educational support to the Sutherland- countries/africa/south-africa

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