Pan-African renewable energy platform Lekela Power today announces its 80 megawatt Noupoort Wind Farm in South Africa’s Northern Cape is now connected to the Eskom grid and commissioning of wind turbines has commenced, one year to the day since it reached financial close and started construction.
This ZAR1.9 billion wind farm is expected to start supplying electricity to the national grid by July 2016 and is the first wind farm to be connected to the grid under Round 3 of the South African Government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
Chris Antonopoulos, Chief Executive of Lekela Power said: “Lekela Power has 610 megawatts of wind generation assets in construction and due to commence construction this year in South Africa. Our Noupoort Wind Farm is the most advanced of these project and is due to start powering 69,000 South African homes in July of this year.”
He Continued: “I am very pleased that the project has been reaching its construction milestones on time and in some instances ahead of schedule. We look forward to continuing to deliver large quantities of much needed, low-cost power to South Africa.”
Notes to Editor:
Project milestones achieved to date:
- Construction of the wind turbine generator foundations started in May 2015.
- All 35 turbine foundations were completed, before schedule, on 20 November 2015.
- Transportation of the various components commenced on 19 October 2015.
- 20 of the project’s total 35 wind turbines have already been erected.
About Noupoort Wind Farm
The Noupoort Wind farm is owned by a consortium dedicated to providing clean, renewable energy to the people of South Africa:
- Lekela Power: Lekela Power is a pan-African renewable energy platform which aims to provide 1,000MW of wind and solar power by 2018. It is a 60:40 joint venture between Actis, the global pan-emerging market private equity firm, and Mainstream Renewable Power, the global wind and solar company.
- Noupoort Renewable Energy Trust: Established by the project company with the objective of carrying out public benefit activities to benefit the local community in the areas of enterprise development, education and health.
- Thebe Investment Corporation; one of South Africa’s most established broad based BEE Investment management companies and leading investor in the Energy & Resources sector (advised by Bridge Capital).
- The IDEAS Managed Fund, is managed by Old Mutual Alternative Investments, a subsidiary of Old Mutual Investment Group one of Africa’s largest independent investment managers.
- Futuregrowth Asset Management, a pathfinder in fixed interest and developmental investing.
- Genesis Eco-Energy in partnership with Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital. Genesis Eco Energy is a pioneering South African renewable energy developer which has been active in South Africa since 2001.
Further information is available on the Noupoort Wind Farm website: www.noupoortwind.co.za.