Eskom’s wind farm fully operational

Eskom’s Sere Wind Farm near Vredendal in the Western Cape has achieved full commercial operational capacity of a 100 MW on March 31.

Brian Molefe, Eskom’s acting Chief Executive said Sere is Eskom’s first large-scale renewable energy project.

“The Sere plant adds 100 MW to the national power grid and contributes to saving nearly 6-million tons of greenhouse gas emissions over its 20 years expected operating life, with average annual energy production of about 298 000 MWh, enough to supply about 124 000 standard homes,” he said.

All 46 wind turbines have been erected and energised, and the construction of the new Skaapvlei substation and a 44-kilometer 132kV distribution line has been completed.

The Sere Wind Farm is one of the largest wind energy projects in South Africa.

Eskom is also developing a 100 MW concentrating solar plant project near Upington in the Northern Cape, a project that will save about 450 000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over its lifetime.