R2.7bn wind farm built by Aveng is now operational

THE 138MW Gouda wind facility built by listed infrastructure group Aveng and its partner Acciona Energia of Spain for Eskom at a cost of R2.7 billion became fully operational last week.

Both the wind farm and the R2.3bn Sishen solar plant, which was completed in December by the two companies, are now collectively contributing about 212MW of power capacity to South Africa’s national grid.

Eskom has accepted a 20-year power purchase agreement at a tariff rate for each project.

Aveng, through its construction and engineering divisions – Aveng Engineering, Aveng Grinaker-LTA Coastal, Aveng Grinaker-LTA Ground Engineering and Aveng Grinaker-LTA M&E – was responsible for the construction works and would play an ongoing role in operating and maintaining both projects.

Aveng Grinaker-LTA managing director Chris Botha said yesterday that the company was delighted to have successfully delivered these two strategically important projects.

“South Africa is blessed with an abundance of sunshine and areas of high wind capacity. With South Africa targeting new renewable energy capacity by 2030, we now have the proven track record to deliver on future renewable energy projects to help address our country’s energy needs,” he said.

Aveng Capital Partners, the group’s investment and structured financing arm, was primarily responsible for project development and capital raising, and remains responsible for project ownership and ongoing asset management for both projects.

Managing director Dharmesh Kalyan said Aveng had over the past few years invested significant resources into the renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) sector, earmarked as a key growth area. He said both projects were part of a larger portfolio of private infrastructure and concession-type projects delivered and partially owned by Aveng.

He said Aveng had also played a leading project sponsor and developer role on transport, including rail and road, and social infrastructure public private partnerships (PPPs).

“This is an exciting time for Aveng Capital Partners and we welcome the opportunity to work with developers and investment partners to deliver IPPs and PPPs across South Africa and selective markets in Africa,” he said.

The Gouda wind facility, situated onshore in the Drakenstein municipality of the Western Cape, consists of 46 3MW wind power turbines and will generate about 400gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity, sufficient to provide power to about 200 000 homes a year.

The 250ha Sishen solar plant comprises about 320 000 solar photovoltaic panels and will produce 216GWh of electricity, equivalent to about 100 000 South African households’ consumption a year.

Aveng shares on the JSE fell by 9.47 percent to close at R5.16.