InnoWind breaks ground on 61.5-MW S African wind farm

Oct 17, 2013 - Wind company InnoWind, 80% owned by EDF Energies Nouvelles, celebrated the start of construction of a 61.5-MW wind farm in South Africa to be located at a mine of Pretoria Portland Cement Co (JNB:PPC).

In a statement yesterday PPC explained that the project was in line with its long-term rehabilitation strategy. PPC and InnoWind are already thinking about a second 24-MW phase to supply power for the cement producer’s operations.

The 61.5-MW Grassridge wind farm in Nelson Mandela Bay requires an investment of ZAR 1.2 billion (USD 122m/EUR 89m). It is being developed under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme of South Africa which targets 3,725 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2016.

InnoWind developed the project and owns a stake together with partners Industrial Development Corp and Grassridge Winds of Change Community Trust -- a local development trust formed by the Motherwell community. The wind farm will use 20 turbines to be supplied by Danish wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS). Once up and running it is estimated to produce as much power as 40,000 local homes consume.

(ZAR 10 = USD 1.016/EUR 0.745)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!