Building Energy reaches fin close for 147-MW S African wind project

Renewable power producer Building Energy SpA has secured the required funds for its 147-MW Roggeveld wind project in South Africa and ordered Nordex turbines for the plant.

The financial close on the project was achieved earlier in April, soon after the Italy-based company signed power purchase agreement (PPA) with South African utility Eskom, said G7 Renewable Energies. The South African company is the developer of the Roggeveld project, which was acquired by Building Energy.

To be installed in the Karoo region, the wind farm will be powered by 47 turbines supplied by German manufacturer Nordex (ETR:NDX1). In a separate press statement on Tuesday, the wind turbine maker said it will deliver 47 units of its AW125/3150 and AW125/3000 machines, as well as towers, for the project, planning to produce the equipment in South Africa. Local installation work is slated to begin in 2019, the German firm said.

Once up and running, the wind park is expected to generate 613 GWh of electricity per year, which will be enough to meet the demand of around 49,200 homes, offsetting about 23,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually. Nordex will service the plant for at least 15 years following commissioning, scheduled for April 2021.

Building Energy was awarded preferred bidder status for the Roggeveld project in the fourth round of South Africa’s REIPPP Programme in April 2015.

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