The Enel Green Power South Africa (EGP RSA) 140 MW Oyster Bay wind farm, situated in the Kouga municipality in the Eastern Cape, has reached commercial operation.
Every year the Oyster Bay wind farm will generate over 568 GWh and prevent an estimated 590 000 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere were the same power generated from coal.
The completion of the Oyster Bay wind farm brings the number of operational EGP RSA wind and solar sites in South Africa to nine, with an overall installed capacity of more than 800 MW. These projects include Nojoli (88 MW), Gibson Bay (111 MW), and Nxuba (140 MW) in the Eastern Cape; Upington (10 MW) and Adams (82.5 MW) in the Northern Cape; Paleisheuwel (82.5 MW) in the Western Cape; Pulida (82.5 MW) in the Free State and Tom Burke (66 MW) in Limpopo.
Reaching commercial operation at the Oyster Bay wind farm follows closely on the completion of the Nxuba wind farm which came online ahead of schedule in December last year, despite challenges presented by the pandemic.
William Price, Country Manager at Enel Green Power South Africa says the project, which amounts to an investment of 180 million euros in South Africa, clearly demonstrates the role the company is playing in helping the country solve its energy crisis using renewable energy solutions.
“The Oyster Bay wind farm was one of five wind projects awarded to Enel Green Power in April 2015. The solution is supported by a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with South African energy utility provider, Eskom, as part of the South African government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) tender,” he explains.
The company’s commitment to sustainability is further demonstrated by its support for local socio-economic development through job creation and education initiatives, mainly in:
- Supplying schools with clean energy through mini-PV systems
- Enhancing education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects by awarding scholarships to local students and employing three full-time teachers
- Supporting school feeding programmes in the Kouga municipality.
During construction of the Oyster Bay wind farm, EGP RSA used digital platforms and innovative software and methods to:
- Monitor and support site activities, including plant commissioning
- Control the quality of on-site operations using devices such as smart glasses that allow instant feedback and suggestions on Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality (HSEQ) activities on-site
- Smart-track wind turbine components, including safety systems
- Provide faster, more accurate, and reliable data collection for quality enhancements to construction
- Improve communication between on-site and off-site teams.
In light of the pandemic and in line with the indications provided by health authorities, rigorous safety protocols were implemented on the construction site to ensure protection of the workers involved as well as the communities surrounding the Oyster Bay wind farm.
For more information visit: www.enelgreenpower.com/countries/africa/south-africa