Acciona secures 138MW project in South African tenders

SOUTH AFRICA: An Acciona-led consortium has confirmed it has secured the rights to develop a 138MW wind farm in the Western Cape Province as part of South Africa's second renewable energy tender.

by John McKenna 22 May 2012

The Department of Energy of South Africa yesterday awarded 1.04GW of renewable energy projects, including seven wind projects totalling 562MW.

Acciona said its joint venture with South African construction group Aveng and not-for-profit investor Soul City Broad Based Empowerment Company (SCBEC) had been awarded 212MW of projects. This comprises a 138MW wind farm and a 74MW photovoltaic solar plant.

The Gouda wind farm will be built in the municipality of Drakenstein, Western Cape Province (in the west of the country). It will be equipped with 46 3MW Acciona turbines, totalling 138MW of installed capacity. Construction work will start in 2013 for completion in 2014.

Vestas meanwhile made a statement yesterday that it had been appointed preferred supplier for five of the projects, with the orders covering a total capacity of 297MW.