The 34.5 MW Wesley-Ciskei Wind Farm, located near Hamburg in the Eastern Cape, was recently connected to the grid. EDF Renewables is the developer and operator of the wind farm.
The 34.5 MW Wesley-Ciskei Wind Farm in the Eastern Cape was recently connected to the grid.
Project Manager, Carl Wlotzka said: “We now have grid connection, so start hot-commissioning of the turbines and complete the reliability testing. After that we will prove Grid Code Compliance, which will be verified, and thereafter we will start Commercial Operations.”
Built during the Covid-19 pandemic, the project endured the level 5 lockdown when all construction activities ceased for eight weeks. “We also had to implement strict Covid-19 health and safety protocols on re-opening of the site, concentrating on a range of measures to combat the spread of the pandemic. Fortunately, the project was not significantly delayed,” said Wlotzka.
CEO of EDF Renewables in South Africa, Tristan De Drouas said, “Given the Covid challenges, we are very happy to have achieved this milestone on the project. We are proud to be playing a key role in contributing to South Africa’s renewable energy goals and to the economic development of the Eastern Cape region.”
EDF Renewables has contributed significantly to South Africa’s renewable energy goals, having already completed four wind farms in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). These include the Waainek, Chaba and Grassridge projects, which contribute 107.1 MW to the grid.
Technology
The Wesley-Ciskei Wind Energy Facility (WEF) comprises 10 turbines supplying a total of 34.5 MW ac. The technology employed on the wind farm includes some of the largest turbines installed in South Africa, with a hub height of 117 m and each blade being 63 m long, each turbine stands 180 m tall. “It was a big transportation challenge to navigate the South African road network with extremely heavy turbine components and blades that are 63 m in length. These components were delivered to Wesley-Ciskei WEF and installed over a period of two months,” commented Wlotzka.
Local economic development
The project has created numerous jobs and resulted in several key economic development initiatives in the community, including an SMME development and upskilling programme. The objective was to assist about 50 SMMEs in the communities surrounding the project site with upskilling in the following areas: Health and Safety, Communication Skills, Financing and Tendering. SAICA ED was appointed to facilitate the programme.
A bursary scheme also assisted two students in the local community to study at an institution of higher learning.
During the hard lockdown, over 400 food parcels were delivered to the community and local businesses manufactured face masks and hand sanitisers for the site.
The project is also the subject of an academic study by the University of the Free State to assess the socio-economic impact it has on the local communities, as it is the first renewable energy project under the REIPPP programme in this locality. Phase 1 of the study developed a baseline of the area and phase 2 will measure the same indicators at the end of the construction phase in order to compare them and assess the effect of the project.
For more information visit: www.edf-re.co.za