South Africa - Western and Northern Cape could get 500 wind turbines

Wind-driven power projects, which could involve the erection of up to 500 wind turbines, are being envisaged in the Western and Northern Cape. This has emerged from recently published notices. Moyeng Energy (Pty) Ltd hopes to erect up to 18 wind turbines near Darling as part of its projected Rheboksfontein wind energy plant.

An area of about 39km² is under consideration, within which this plant and associated infrastructure will be built, if permission is given. It will include access roads, a substation and a 132kV power line that will connect to the transmission network.

Moyeng Energy is looking to construct the so-called Suurplaat wind-energy plant close to Sutherland. The applicant is considering an area of 286km² for this wind farm.

According to the relevant notice of the environmental impact review, this scheme involves up to 400 wind turbines, one or more 400kV power lines to connect to the transmission network, a substation and access roads.

Plans are also being devised to launch a commercial wind farm project at Britannia Bay on the West Coast. Terra Power Solutions Ltd, a Johannesburg company in the GEO Group, wants to erect up to 20 wind turbines about 2.3km south-east of the coastal town should it get approval from the relevant authorities.

Notice has been given regarding the review study process that needs to be done in this connection. The intended area for the wind farm is some 30km from Saldanha Bay.

All of the projects that government is seeking to supply about 10 000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable energy by 2013 could be identified as early as the third quarter of 2010.

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net