Introduction
For thousands of years people have used windmills and the energy derived from wind to pump water and to grind
corn. After a breakthrough by scientists, wind can now also be used to generate electricity. Wind energy, like solar energy, is a free renewable energy source and will never run out.
The amount of energy that can be extracted from the wind depends on its speed. The higher the wind speed, the more energy can be harnessed to generate electricity on a large scale. However, this requires large tracts of land to install enough wind turbines or generators, which are also noisy.
Wind as an energy source is only practical in areas that have strong and steady winds. South Africa has fair wind potential, especially along the coastal areas of Western and Eastern Cape. Currently, the Klipheuwel wind farm is operating near Cape Town and the Darling wind farm is expected to be in operation by early 2007.
Wind farms
Klipheuwel wind farm
Eskom's demonstration wind farm at Klipheuwel in the Cape is exploring the use of wind energy for bulk electricity generation. Of the turbines, the most basic unit is performing the best under high wind conditions in summer, while the largest turbine is performing the best under weak wind or winter conditions.
Overall, the total production annually has been just more than 4GWh. The Klipheuwel wind farm has a total capacity of 3.2 MW, and is expected to generate at a load factor of between 20 and 30 percent. The wind farm consists of three units, that is two Vestas (Danish) turbines of 660kW and 1 750kW respectively, and a Jeumont (French) turbine of 750kW. The blade spans are 47, 66, and 48 metres respectively.
The first unit started generating on 16 August 2002 and the last on 20 February 2003. Each wind generator has its own small meteorological station on top of the turbine, as well as an aircraft warning light. The wind turbines at Klipheuwel generate at wind speeds between 11 and 50 km/hour. Full power is reached at 50 km/hour.
Darling National Demonstration Wind farm
In June 2000 the Minister of Minerals and Energy declared the Darling wind farm
as a National Demonstration project. This facility will consist of four
German-designed wind turbines that will produce 1.3MW of electricity each,
bringing the total output of the wind farm to 5,2MW with an annual average
output of 13.2 GW (28% load factor). This is the 1st grid connected, independent wind energy
power-generating facility developed in South Africa. The Darling Wind farm
Company (DWP) signed a 20 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the City of
Cape Town as well as a Power Wheeling Agreement with
Eskom.
The project is being developed with financial assistance from the Danish government through Danida, its funding agency,
loan from the
Development Bank
of Southern Africa and investment by the
Central Energy Fund and the Darling Independent Power Producer. Referred to as the National Demonstration Project, it will be used as an example for future public-private partnerships in the establishment of electricity generation. Historically, this was largely the sole domain of Eskom.
The turbines are erected below Moedmaag Hill, about 12 km from Darling along the way to Yzerfontein on the West Coast. The structures will be 50m high and the blades will have a span of 31m.
Approval was granted after the environmental impact assessment as prescribed by legislation. The
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) established the positive impacts will far outweigh any possible negative environmental impacts.
South Africa Wind Energy Programme
The South Africa Wind Energy Programme (SAWEP) originated from the declaration
by the Minister of Minerals and Energy in June 2000 of the Darling National
Demonstration Wind Farm as a National Demonstration Project and her request for
international assistance.
Global Environmental Facility assistance
The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) PDF B (Project Development Facility
block B) document was
endorsed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT)
in February 2001. GEF approved the project in November 2001.
The Director-General of Minerals and Energy approved the DME as
Executing Agency in May 2002 with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
as the GEF Implementing Agency.
Global Environmental Facility Project Development Phase PDF B (March 2003 – June 2004) objectives
- Mechanisms to cover incremental costs of commercial wind farms (e.g.
renewable energy investment fund, fossil-fuel kWh charge, green power market,
CDM, concessional donor funding);
- Commercial requirements for grid connection (licensing, Power Purchase
Agreements, Power Wheeling and/or Banking agreements);
- Availability and accessibility of investment capital;
- Financial intermediation for the first wind Independent Power Producer (IPP);
- Pipeline development of (future) wind energy projects; and
- Requirements to replicate the first wind IPP.
The following activities have been undertaken:
- Financial Engineering
Sub-contracts:
- GEF Technical Specialist and Green Funding Sources and Mechanisms
Sub-contracts:
Status:
Above activities were presented and discussed at a workshop held at the
Development Bank of
Southern Africa on 18 March 2004. Fifty delegates, including
international representatives from EHN and Enercon India, attended the
workshop.
The outcome of the activities undertaken has been used to compile the
UNDP GEF Full-Size Project Brief.
Global Environment Facility South Africa Wind Energy Programme(SAWEP) Full Size Project (Technical Assistance)
The
SAWEP FSP document was endorsed by DEAT in November 2004. GEF
approved the project in June 2007. The Director-General of Minerals and
Energy approved the DME as Executing Agency in July 2007 with the UNDP
as the GEF Implementing Agency.
A Project Management Unit (PMU) has been established. The PMU provides
secretariat, coordination and overall management functions and tasks
related to the different outputs. The PMU reports to the DME Director
Renewable Energy and present progress reports to the Project Steering
Committee (PSC).
South Africa Wind Energy Programme Full Size Project (SAWEP FSP)
SAWEP FSP is a two year (February 2008 – February 2010) technical
assistance project
Goal
To reduce GHG emissions generated by thermal power in the national
inter-connected system.
Objective
To install and operate up to 5.2 MW Darling wind farm and prepare the
development of 45 MW combined and more wind farms (by the private sector)
Expected outcomes
The project has been divided into six main outcomes to contribute to a
first lowering of the identified barriers within a full-size project of
a two-year period. Each component is associated with specific outputs
and a set of activities. By successfully implementing activities under
these six outcomes the project will contribute towards the achievement
of the project goal and objective.
- Increased public sector incremental cost funding, by assisting
the Government of South Africa with detailing the most appropriate
financial instruments that should be made available to stimulate
commercial wind energy developments;
- Green power funding initialised, by assisting initiatives geared
towards green power marketing and setting up and implementing
Tradable Renewable Energy Certificates (TRECs) as well as
implementing a green power guarantee scheme developed under the PDF
B;
- Long-term policy and implementation framework for wind energy
developed, by assisting the Government of South Africa;
- Wind resource assessment, by assisting interested public and
private sectors entities with the generation of reliable wind energy
data and other necessary information for wind energy development;
- Commercial wind energy development promoted, by assisting
private sector developers with the (pre-) feasibility of a number of
wind farms up to 45 MW installed capacity.
- Built capacity building and strengthened institutions, such as
key government departments (e.g. national and provincial
environmental departments), public agencies (e.g. financing), wind
farm industry (e.g. South African Wind Energy Association) and
independent private firms involved in wind energy development.
South Africa Wind Energy Programme (SAWEP FSP) Inception Workshop
The SAWEP FSP Inception Workshop is scheduled for 12 March 2008.
Goal
To compile the SAWEP FSP first annual work plan with verifiable
performance indicators.
Objective
To compile the SAWEP FSP Inception Workshop report.
The SAWEP FSP project document was developed in 2003/04. Several
developments have since taken place that impact directly on the
implementation of the SAWEP FSP. The Darling Wind farm construction
is underway, the
Electricity
Regulation Act, 2006 was promulgated and Eskom is investigating
a 100 MW farm. The National
Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has commissioned a
feed-in tariff study and electricity demand exceeding supply. A
first annual work plan with verifiable performance indicators which
is based on the project log frame (see sections II of the project
document) and taking into account recent developments needs to be
compiled. The project's success is dependent on the cooperation from
all stakeholders and in turn how the project can be of value to the
stakeholders. Your attendance and participation at the workshop are
therefore of the utmost importance to ensure that the project stays
relevant and enhance a basis for the commercialisation of grid
connected wind energy in South Africa.
Presentations:
