Climate protection is the new digitalisation

Wind Farm Project in South Africa

Our latest green energy project of four wind farms in South Africa started in 2019 and was successfully accomplished this year. With the newly installed wind parks in Nxuba, Roggeveld, Garob and Copperton more than 2,000 GW of clean green energy is expected to be generated annually. This is of high importance for the region when looking at the status quo: The Global Wind Energy Council stated that in 2020, 515 MW of new wind power capacity was installed in South Africa, bringing total capacity in the region to 2,465 MW. Our 4 wind parks would contribute to approximately 20% of new wind power capacity in South Africa. In fact, according to a report published by the IFC Africa is only tapping into 0.01% of its wind power potential with South Africa being the number one market for new annual installations last year as well as for cumulative installations. We are overwhelmed by the great success of the project and its immense value for the region.

In the following the highlights of the project:

• Complementary and experienced team: Our dedicated colleagues in project logistics, engineering and chartering at DREWES Logistics have worked out a holistic logistics concept including budgeting, feasibility studies, full and part charter shipments, port handling, intermediate storage, cranage and inland transport of 174 wind turbines.The total volume encompassed 331,575 freight tons.
• Global network: The components, nacelles, hubs and blades, ranging in weight up to 105 to, and with a length of up to 63 m, were shipped ex India, Spain and China to the ports of Coega and Saldanha Bay. From there, the components were loaded onto trailers and transported – accompanied by escort vehicles and flagmen – to the intermediate storage yards. The concrete towers were produced locally in South Africa, fostering local content production and employment. In close cooperation with the managers of the construction sites the last mile of the components was coordinated. The on-site service in South Africa was perfectly, precisely organized and executed byour local staff despite adverse conditions.

Green power capacity of the four wind parks:

• Nxuba Wind farm, owned by Enel Green Power, is a 140 MW site, located close to the city Cookhouse, in the  Amatole District, South Africa`s Eastern Cape province. It comprises 47 Acciona AW125/3000 turbines, generating over 460 GWh per year.
• Roggeveld wind farm, developed by Building Energy, is a 147 MW site, situated about 20 km north of Matjiesfontain,in the Karoo, between the Western and Northern Cape. It comprises 47 Acciona AW125/3150 and AW125/3000 turbines, generating 613 GWh of green energy yearly.
• Garob and Copperton wind farms are situated close to the town of Copperton, which is part of the Siyathemba Local Municipality, in the Northern Cape province. Garob wind farm, featuring 46 Acciona AW125/3150 turbines, is operated by Enel Green Power and will collectively supply 140 MW to the national grid. Garob wind farm is expected to generate 573 GWh per year. Copperton Wind Farm, developed by the independent power producer Elawan, comprises 34 Acciona AW125/3150 turbines and supply 102 MW to the country. 375 GWh of clean green energy is expected to be generated annually.

“We are glad to have contributed to a successful construction process of all four wind farms. Especially during the outbreak of the Corona pandemic logistic processes were massively stressed. The project team was facing lockdown situations in several countries. All involved parties did a tremendous job to manage this situation in a best-case scenario,” states Dr.-Ing. Patric Drewes, Managing Director DREWES Logistics.

DREWES Logistics has been a specialized logistics service provider in wind and renewable energy for decades. Together with our partners we were able to contribute to a green future and bring South Africa one step further towards its National Development Plan with a vision for 2030 to transition the country to an environmentally sustainable, climate-change resilient, low-carbon economy and just society.