South African renewables initiative announces preferred bidders

• 11 years ago (2013-11-03)
• Junior Isles

Africa 320 Renewables 776

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A consortium led by Irish wind developer Mainstream Renewable Power is among the preferred bidders for the construction of three multi-million dollar wind energy projects in Northern Cape, South Africa.

The wind projects are part of round three of the South African Department of Energy’s renewable energy independent power producers programme.

Mainstream has entered into a partnership with Thebe Investment Corporation, Old Mutual and local community members to build three Northern Cape wind-energy projects, expected to generate a total of 360 MW for the national grid.

Mainstream CEO Eddie O’Connor told local media that although the company would source the turbines for the wind farms from multinational electronics maker Siemens, the blades and transformers would be manufactured locally in South Africa.

"As far as I’m concerned, we are going to build as promised in our submissions," O’Connor said.

The South African Department of Energy has said that it has sent letters of appointment to 17 bidders that would develop projects generating 1471.5 MW in electricity for Eskom’s national grid.

Seven preferred bidders were contracted for the generation of 787 MW from onshore wind farms, and six to generate 450 MW from solar PV. One bidder was allocated 16.5 MW from biomass, one 18 MW from landfill gas and two concentrating solar plants generating 200 MW.