Project operational in time for FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup PORT ELIZABETH | South Africa – The Belgian green electricity company Electrawinds has begun the construction of a wind turbine in the harbour of Coega, near Port Elizabeth. This marks first commercial wind project in South Africa as well as the start of the first phase of a large wind farm that, in time, will comprise 25 wind turbines. For Electrawinds, this will be the first operational project outside Europe.
The wind turbine has been built in the Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) in Coega, a new harbour area at the Indian Ocean. It is a VESTAS V90 wind turbine with a 95 metre tower and a 90 metre rotor diameter.
The turbine has a capacity of 1.8 megawatts which translates into an annual yield of 5,700,000 kWh and equals the annual electricity consumption for 1,700 families (based on an average annual consumption of 3,500 kWh).
“In Belgium, Electrawinds is one of the pioneers of renewable energy and has, in the meantime, built up great know-how. It is now our ambition to fulfill that pioneering role in South Africa as well. There is great support there for renewable energy and this offers good prospects,” says Luc Desender, managing director of Electrawinds.
“We want to invest not only in turbines but also in people. Electrawinds is committed to establishing an education fund for students interested in renewable energy,” says Jan Dewulf, director of business development at Electrawinds.
The turbine has been built in the Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) in Coega, a new harbour area at the Indian Ocean. It is a VESTAS V90 with a 95-meter tower and a 90-meter rotor diameter. The turbine has a capacity of 1.8 MW which translates into an annual yield of 5,700,000 kWh and equals the annual electricity consumption for 1,700 families (based on an average annual consumption of 3,500 kWh).
The first of 25 wind turbines will be completed in time for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup taking place in South Africa in June this year. The green electricity produced during the world championship will be donated by ELECTRAWINDS through special agreement to the Nelson Mandela Bay football stadium in Port Elizabeth which is hooked up to the same electricity network as the wind turbine. This stadium is hosting, among other games, the quarter finals of the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup as well as the play offs for third and fourth place.
Luc Desender | Managing Director Electrawinds: In Belgium, Electrawinds is one of the pioneers of renewable energy and has, in the meantime, built up great know-how. It is now our ambition to fulfil that pioneering role in South Africa as well. There is great support there for renewable energy and this offers good prospects. Furthermore, it is my personal dream to reserve the first green electricity of Electrawinds in South Africa for the 2010 football world championship.
Khwezi Tiya | Executive Manager Coega Development Corporation (CDC): Electrawinds and CDC are not only taking the lead in creating sustainable and environmentally friendly energy, but at the same time we also take care of the future development of the East Cape. Electrawinds will start a student training programme in South Africa.
Electrawinds will be managing the educational programme and has cooperated with CDC for the selection of the first three candidates. The students started an engineering programme in January 2010 at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. For further specialisation, there is a postgraduate programme offered in Europe.
Jan Dewulf | Director Business Development: We want to invest not only in turbines but also in people. Electrawinds is committed to establishing an education fund for students interested in renewable energy. With Emil Unger, Electrawinds already has a representative in South Africa but through the required training, it also wants to offer local young people opportunities so that, in time, they will be able to follow up our projects in South Africa.
Emil Unger | Electrawinds South Africa Representative: I am particularly proud that after almost four years of extensive work on this project we are finally seeing it come to life. Electrawinds also wants to give something back to the South African community. Right now, South Africa doesn’t have enough qualified staff in the sector of renewable energy and the scholarships being provided by Electrawinds will make an immense difference to the recipients. The fact that the Coega wind farm is linked to the World Cup can only be a good thing for the country. We will also be helping South Africa to reduce its carbon footprint.
