Kouga Wind Farm powers up 80MW of green energy

Kouga Wind Farm, which was one of the first projects selected in round one of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Program (REIPP), consists of 32x N90/2500 Nordex Wind Turbines on 80m high towers with an installed capacity of 80 MW and an expected annual energy output of 335 GWh.

Anne Henschel, Managing Director of Nordex South Africa says, “We are extremely proud of this accomplishment as it was a complex logistics process, supplying equipment from three different continents. Having installed, connected to the National Electricity Grid and safely operated the entire plant on time, after approximately 2 years of construction, is testament to Nordex’s reputation as quality turn-key execution partner of wind farm projects and manufacturer of wind turbines.”

The project’s success underlines South Africa’s increasing competitiveness in the global renewable energy industry. The Oysterbay area in the Eastern Cape, where the Kouga Wind Farm is located, is an ideal location for a wind farm. The average wind speed is over 9m/s around 33km/h and the wind is very constant throughout the day, dropping slightly in the evening.

Nordex’s contribution extends beyond the manufacturing, turn-key execution, installation and maintenance of the wind farm. As is policy for the German owned industry leader, socio-economic upliftment in the surrounding areas is a key focus.

At Kouga Wind Farm, Nordex promotes local labour from the communities in the towns surrounding the wind farm as well as several social upliftment programmes with local schools.

Says Anne Henschel, “We are contributing towards an English and Afrikaans reading programme at the Sandwater Primary School. We have also built a jungle gym for the children there. Further, we collaborated with Kouga Wind Farm Management and our subcontractors to build a clinic waiting facility in Umzamowethu. We also upgraded the Sea Vista Sports Field and Play Park and donated a refurbished container for the use of the sports field caretaker.”