South Africa: EDF Energies Nouvelles commissions a third wind farm in South Africa

he 24.6 MW Waainek wind farm located in Eastern Cape province consists of eight turbines, each with a capacity of 3.075 MW. The facility is 60%-owned by InnoWind (an 80%-held subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles), with the remaining 40%-owned by local partners.

In line with the tender specifications, a portion of the revenues generated from the sale of electricity will be used to encourage local entrepreneurship and support the local economy. The energy produced by the Waainek wind farm is purchased by the grid operator under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement and will supply over 16,000 South African homes.

In 2015, InnoWind has commissioned the three wind farms (the 61.5 MW Grassridge, the 21.5 MW Chaba and Waainek facilities) awarded by the South African government in 2012. Pursuing its development in South Africa, the EDF Energies Nouvelles’ subsidiary has been allocated a fourth wind farm (33 MW) in 2015.