Aurora Wind Power starts commercial operation of the West Coast 1 wind farm
Company Announcement - The West Coast 1 project is part of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement programme, through which South Africa intends to procure 3,625 MW of renewable energy by the end of 2016, to help curb its reliance on coal for electricity and contribute towards carbon emission reduction objectives.
West Coast 1 will allow for an offset of an estimated 5.6 million tonnes of CO2 over the 20-year duration of its Power Purchase Agreement.
ENGIE holds a 43% equity stake in the project, while Investec Bank Limited (“Investec”) holds 34.5% and KTH 20%. The remaining 2.5% has been allocated to a Community Trust, for the purpose of developing and sustaining the surrounding community. Vestas supplied the forty seven 2 MW wind turbines, and will also be charged with the long term service of the facility. The construction of West Coast 1, which started in June 2013, created more than 600 jobs, 450 of which were for surrounding communities.