At peak power production, these turbines will collectively be producing up to 80 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power approximately 69 000 homes.
Martina Flanagan, NWF’s project manager, said that transporting the massive components for the wind turbines and then getting these assembled had been “a huge undertaking”.
Erection of the first wind turbines began in December 2015; crews from Danish companies BMS and FairWind were able to assemble and erect all 35 in four months, ahead of schedule.
NWF said its Siemens wind turbines are 100m tall to allow for optimum energy production. Each turbine has three blades 53m long and constructed of fibreglass reinforced epoxy.
The construction of NWF cost R1,9 billion. It will be the first wind farm in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme’s round three.
Partners and investors in the construction and operation of NWF are Lekela Power, Thebe Investment Corporation, the IDEAS Managed Fund, Futuregrowth Asset Management, Genesis Eco-Energy in partnership with Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital, and Noupoort Renewable Energy Community Trust.
