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  • Construction of PE wind farm to start: MetroWind

    Published on 12-07-2012 04:25 PM
    11 Comments Comments



    Construction on a wind farm to supply power to the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is due to start near Port Elizabeth, MetroWind said on Thursday.

    The company said it had been given the green light to build and operate a R550 million wind farm in Van Stadens, between Port Elizabeth and Jeffrey's Bay.

    Construction would begin in September.

    "The farm, to be known as MetroWind Van Stadens Farm, is expected to start supplying the municipality and Eskom with power in October next year," said company director Donald McGillivray.

    Eskom would be supplied with power for a period of 20 years, he said.

    "The project is a step forward in the country's pursuit of clean, renewable energy."

    McGillivray said the community was fully behind the farm.

    The government asked for proposals from renewable energy producers last year for the construction and operation of wind farms in the province.

    MetroWind was one of the 28 preferred bidders.

    It was granted a licence by the National Energy Regulator of SA.

    The municipality also gave its consent for the wind farm.
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    Comments 11 Comments
    1. rpm's Avatar
      rpm - 12-07-2012, 04:26 PM
      Construction on a wind farm to supply power to the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is due to start near Port Elizabeth, MetroWind said on Thursday.

      The company said it had been given the green light to build and operate a R550 million wind farm in Van Stadens, between Port Elizabeth and Jeffrey's Bay.
    1. rpm's Avatar
      rpm - 12-07-2012, 04:29 PM
      So the windy city Port Elizabeth is at long last going to contribute, using their most valuable resource, wind
    1. MickeyD's Avatar
      MickeyD - 12-07-2012, 04:32 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by rpm View Post
      So the windy city Port Elizabeth is at long last going to contribute, using their most valuable resource, wind
      Perversely enough, if there is too much wind (like in Cape Town) you cannot build a wind farm ....
    1. DJ...'s Avatar
      DJ... - 12-07-2012, 04:32 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by rpm View Post
      So the windy city Port Elizabeth is at long last going to contribute, using their most valuable resource, wind
      I thought that was MickeyD. Or are they installing him backwards into a tunnel with a three-bean salad?
    1. copacetic's Avatar
      copacetic - 12-07-2012, 04:34 PM
      Hectic, first I've heard of this.
    1. Scooby_Doo's Avatar
      Scooby_Doo - 12-07-2012, 04:35 PM
      Half a billion, how many windmills is that worth?
    1. MickeyD's Avatar
      MickeyD - 12-07-2012, 04:38 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by copacetic View Post
      Hectic, first I've heard of this.
      Quite a few businesses are using wind turbines to supplement their Eskom power. Produced locally by Kestrel (Eveready subsidiary)... http://www.kestrelwind.co.za/
    1. froot's Avatar
      froot - 12-07-2012, 04:59 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Scooby_Doo View Post
      Half a billion, how many windmills is that worth?
      Not a lot hey.

      Contrary to what most people believe, it's not a "free" energy source. Maintenance costs on windfarms are incredibly high. I did have some numbers on pricing for them but can't find it now. It wasn't anywhere close to "cheap" though.
    1. Scooby_Doo's Avatar
      Scooby_Doo - 12-07-2012, 05:02 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by froot View Post
      Not a lot hey.

      Contrary to what most people believe, it's not a "free" energy source. Maintenance costs on windfarms are incredibly high. I did have some numbers on pricing for them but can't find it now. It wasn't anywhere close to "cheap" though.

      I did not think so, they are huge things, would guess at 10s of millions for just 1.
    1. ChocolateBadger's Avatar
      ChocolateBadger - 13-07-2012, 10:23 AM
      Fusion Power! Who's with me?
    1. MickZA's Avatar
      MickZA - 13-07-2012, 11:14 AM
      source: http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/art...ths-2012-07-12

      MetroWind director Ian Curry said construction at the MetroWind Van Stadens Wind Farm site should start during the third quarter of 2012 – Curry is also head of Basil Read Energy, which has a 35% interest in MetroWind.

      The project, along with the other first-window REIPPP projects, was expected to reach financial closure during the course of July.
      ... "was expected to reach financial closure during the course of July" means they don't have funding yet, the usual PE / East Cape scenario.

      As previously stated, wind power is currently not cost effective, so for me it's a case of IBWISI