PHOTO: JAMES DE VILLIERS
The Wolf Wind Farm project in the Eastern Cape is – once operational – expected to lessen to load on Eskom when it’s completed in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The wind farm, which is being developed Red Rocket, is geared to meet the energy requirements of around 110 000 households annually, marking a substantial leap towards a more sustainable future.
Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson visited the site on Thursday, which is located between the Dr Beyer’s Naude and Sunday River Valley Local Municipalities.
Macpherson lauded the work being done at the wind farm, saying all stakeholders have been moving at the right pace and within budget.
He said the project would be providing “much-needed energy into our national grid so that we can keep the lights on and keep our economy going”.
The power generated from the wind farm will be sold to Eskom under a power purchase agreement for a period of 20 years.
“I’m also incredibly proud about the work that Infrastructure South Africa has done in providing technical assistance, clearing out hurdles and obtaining certificates so that they could get shovels into the ground as quickly as they did and that they remain on time and on budget.,” Macpherson said.
The 5th Bid Window under the Renewable Energy IPP Procurement programme was launched in April 2021 and the department announced the appointment of 25 preferred bidders in October 2021.
The bid window 5 projects are expected to attract over R50-billion in investment and will create around 14,000 new jobs during the construction and operations of the renewable power plants, the department said in a statement.
