RENEWABLE ENERGY

A large percentage of South Africa’s electricity is generated from coalfired stations and, even though coal will continue to play a significant role in the immediate future, there is growing awareness within government to upscale renewable energy projects.

he Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)

T2019 is a roadmap that the South African government plans to use to supports the diversification of the national energy mix. It is an electricity infrastructure development plan based on the least-cost electricity supply and demand balance. It has set out policy interventions to ensure the security of South Africa’s electricity supply.

Wind power has been allocated more capacity than any other energy source in the IRP 2019, which also includes plans for new coal, gas and nuclear plants. Some 14 400 MW of new wind power capacity will be commissioned by 2030 under the IRP 2019 and it is forecast to contribute 17.8% of annual energy generation in South Africa – second only to coal, which will provide 58.8%.

There are already 33 wind farms in various stages of development throughout South Africa. The country has more than 1 365 wind turbine generators, totalling 3 672 MW of installed capacity, with 2 020 MW being fully operational.

Lekela, a renewable power generation company that delivers utility-scale projects across Africa, is not only looking forward to seizing the opportunity to provide renewable power in South Africa but has recently announced that its Kangnas Wind Farm in the Northern Cape has successfully reached commercial operation. This marks the completion of all five wind farms in a Lekela-led consortium across the country.

Together, these total over 600 MW and will provide clean, cost-effective power for up to 485 000 South African homes over the next 20 years.

“Wind power in Africa has massive potential,” says Chris Antonopoulos, CEO at Lekela. “Reliable, clean energy is crucial to sustainable socio-economic development and the elimination of poverty, inequality and unemployment. It is also vital for a just transition from fossil fuels to renewables and for averting the worst impacts of climate change.”

Lekela is a renewable power generation company delivering utility-scale projects. It was founded in 2015 to supply much-needed clean energy to communities across Africa. Lekela’s focus is on taking projects from mid- or latestage development into long-term operation. The company is majority-owned by shareholders: 60% by Actis, the leading growth markets energy investor, and 40% by a consortium led by Mainstream Renewable Power, which includes investors such as the IFC and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

In South Africa, Lekela has completed five wind farms, all of which are now in operation. These wind farms are owned by a consortium of local investors. Mainstream Asset Management South Africa, a subsidiary of Mainstream Renewable Power, provides construction and operation management for these five projects on behalf of Lekela and the other shareholders involved in the projects.

Noupoort Wind Farm successfully reached commercial operations in July 2016, making it the first wind farm to successfully achieve operations as part of the third round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). Situated in the Umsobomvu Municipal Area located 10 km east of Noupoort in the Northern Cape, it generates around 304 800 MWh of clean renewable energy per year. The wind farm will offset around 300 000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Loeriesfontein 2 is situated in the Hantam Municipality of the Northern Cape and was contracted under the third round of the country’s REIPPPP. The plant has a total output of 140 MW. The Loeriesfontein 2 Wind Farm generates approximately 563 500 MWh of clean energy each year and offsets around 550 000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The project started its construction phase in February 2015 and successfully achieved commercial operations on 8 December 2017.

Khobab Wind Farm, which achieved commercial operation in December 2017, is located right next to Loeriesfontein Wind Farm. Like its neighbour, the farm contributes almost 140 MW and is estimated to have cost R3.5 billion. The Khobab Wind Farm provides approximately 563 500 MWh renewable energy to the national grid annually and helps South Africa avoid approximately 550 000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

Kangnas Wind Farm is the latest to successfully reach commercial operations. The 140 MW farm is situated just over 50 km east of Springbok in the Nama Khoi Local Municipality of the Northern Cape. Construction for the project began in 2018. Some 50% of the construction content was manufactured in South Africa, including the site’s two transformers. Kangnas has also been committed to driving local job creation on top of manufacturing. Long-term operations and maintenance jobs will also be supported while the 61 Siemens SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines generate electricity for 20 years.

Perdekraal East Wind Farm entered operation in October and was the first wind farm from Round 4 of the REIPPPP to do so. Situated in the Witzenberg Municipality near Matjiesfontien in the Western Cape, the 110 MW wind farm has 48 turbines generating approximately 360 GWh of energy each year. The facility will eliminate approximately 410 000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually

compared to traditional fossil-fuel power plants. The breakdown of the number of homes each wind farm provides with electricity is as follows: • Kangnas (140 MW) – 154 625 homes • Khobab (140 MW) – 170 000 homes • Loeriesfontein (140 MW) – 161 300 homes • Noupoort (80 MW) – 91 835 homes • Perdekraal East (110 MW) – 111 118 homes. They will offset a combined total of 2.36 million tonnes of carbon annually.

Antonopoulos asserts that all Lekela projects support local employment, with Kangnas and Perdekraal East each supporting over 550 jobs at the height of construction.

“Lekela continues to drive an increase in the local content in its projects and many of the components used are manufactured in South Africa. “The local communities will benefit from a significant shareholding in the wind farms through a community trust established at financial close. Additionally, the wind farm works actively with the local community to design and invest in meaningful socio-economic and economic development projects in the local area. We focus on maximising the local value created by the construction and operation of our wind farms,” he concludes.