The two farms, Khobab and Loeriesfontein, are being developed alongside each other within the Hantam Municipality, awarded as part of the South African Government’s Round 3 Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPP).
Mainstream Renewable Power South Africa is responsible for the construction and operations of the power plant, which are being developed at an investment of ZAR7bn (approximately €460m), for consortium led by Lekela Power.
Khobab and Loeriesfontein wind farms general manager Tom Thorogood said: "We are thrilled to be adding over a million megawatt hours of clean, renewable energy each year to the country’s national grid; avoiding an estimated twenty-two million tons of carbon emissions over the lifespan of these projects, when compared to traditional fossil fuel power plants."
Lekela Power a joint venture formed between Actis and Mainstream, which aims to provide 1,000MW of wind and solar power by 2018.
Northern Cape Premier Sylvia Lucas said: "We are well on our way to becoming a net producer of renewable energy to the rest of the country by 2020.
"Renewable energy is expected to unlock existing potential and to position the province to attract both local and foreign investment and create much needed jobs."
Scheduled to be commissioned by December 2017, the project will feature turbine which will be developed and delivered by Siemens from its Gestamp wind turbine tower factory in Atlantis in the Western Cape.
A consortium comprised of Murray and Roberts Construction and Consolidated Power Projects will be responsible for the civil and electrical works for the projects.
Image: The Khobab and Loeriesfontein wind farms will feature Siemens-built turbines. Photo: courtesy of Mainstream Renewable Power.
