EDF Energies Nouvelles has commissioned its first wind farm in South Africa at PPC Cement’s Grassridge Quarry in Port Elizabeth.
The Grassridge wind project aims to achieve a renewable energy capacity of 3725 MW by 2016.
The project is undertaken as part of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program of South Africa.
The wind farm consists of 20 Vestas V-112 3 MW wind turbines, providing a total installed capacity of 61.5 MW.
The electricity generated will be sufficient to power approximately 40000 households.
The Grassridge wind farm is the first of three wind project tenders won by France-based EDF EN in 2012, which was developed by InnoWind.
The wind farm forms part of PPC’s long-term rehabilitation plans for the mine and the project is the first step in procuring power from renewable sources.
In July 2014, the Innu First Nations of Mashteuiatsh, Essipit and Pessamit, together with EDF EN Canada, signed an agreement on the Rivière-du-Moulin Wind Project in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.
The Rivière-du-Moulin Wind Project, with a total capacity of 350 MW, is under construction in two stages. The Phase I producing 150 MW was commissioned in December, 2014 and the Phase II having a capacity of 200 MW was to be online by the end of 2015.
In another development, EDF EN Canada and Enbridge dedicated the 300 MW Blackspring Ridge Wind Project, located at Alberta.
The occasion was graced by the presence of Energy Minister; Diana McQueen, Reeve of Vulcan County; Derrick Annable and Mayor of Carmangay; Kim Nichols along with EDF EN Canada and Enbridge officials.
South Africa has been pursuing renewable energy expansion since 2011.
South Africa’s state utility, Eskom, is struggling to meet the country’s power demand, prompting people to adapt cleaner, renewable sources. In Johannesburg, keeping the lights on has become a challenge.
Eskom provides South Africa with around 95 percent of its electricity demand.
Sabeena Wahid