Enel Green Power has commissioned its 140MW Nxuba wind farm in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. The wind farm was constructed with an estimated investment of Euro 200m wind farm and is under a 20-year power supply agreement with Eskom. The project is expected to generate 460 GWh of energy a year and expected to reduce CO2 emissions to the extent of 460,000 tonnes annually.
The location of the project in Eastern Cape province is reported to be well suited for wind power generation. This is attributed to the strong wind current along its coastline between Cookhouse and the western border of Lesotho. The region is also located close to major grid connections which will make it easier for the distribution of power to the national grid.
The tender for the project was floated under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. The Nxuba wind park was one of five projects that were allocated in the fourth round REIPPPP auctions in April 2015. In the auction, 700 MW of wind projects were awarded to the Enel Group.
Enel Green Power now has eight operational projects in South Africa with a cumulative installed capacity of over 650 MW. Enel Green Power also operates the Nojoli wind farm and Gibson Bay wind project with capacities of 88 MW and 111 MW respectively in the Eastern Province. In the Northern Cape Province, the company runs solar plants Upington and Adams with a cumulative capacity of 93 MW. Further, Enel Green Power also operates the 82.5 MW Pulida solar park in the Free State, the 66 MW Tom Burke solar park in Limpopo, and the 82.5 MW Paleishuewel solar park in the Western Cape region.