Wind Power News: Africa
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
New judges for wind farm case
Chief Justice David Maraga has appointed a new three-judge bench to hear a land case between Lake Turkana Wind Power Ltd and Marsabit residents after the previous judges recused themselves. Justices Peter Muchoki Njoroge of Chuka Law Courts, Yuvinalis Angima based at Meru Law Courts and Lady Justice Grace Kemei of Murang’a said they would hear the matter from January 20 to January 23, 2020. Numerous delays They observed that the case against the firm had been pending in court . . . Complete story »
How Kenya’s mega wind power project is hurting communities
Kenya recently launched the Lake Turkana Wind Power project, Africa’s largest wind energy project and the biggest public-private investment in Kenyan history. The wind farm will produce 300MW of low-cost renewable energy for Kenya’s national grid. Kenya is already a leader in green energy; 70% of its electricity comes from renewable sources, all part of the government’s plans to promote renewable energy in line with the national development strategy, Vision 2030. The Lake Turkana Wind Power project is a key . . . Complete story »
Wind power project no respite for Kenyans’ high power bills
Kenyans will continue paying high electricity bills despite President Uhuru Kenyatta launching the 310 megawatts wind power project in Loyangalani, Marsabit, last Friday. It was expected that the project touted as the biggest wind farm on the continent would lower the cost of power because it is clean energy. However, not so fast. Chairman of Lake Turkana Power board Mugo Kebati, the private entity that is generating the green power, told the Star that consumers will still pay high cost . . . Complete story »
Truck carrying wind turbine tumbles off mountain; driver dies
A truck carrying a wind turbine tumbled off a mountain at Piekenierskloof Pass in Citrusdal on Thursday morning, authorities said. The truck driver had been carrying the abnormal load along with a traffic escort on the N7 when he lost control, said Western Cape traffic chief Kenny Africa. After being freed from the wreckage, he died on his way to the hospital. (Photos: Supplied) Complete story »
The reason renewables can’t power modern civilization is because they were never meant to
Over the last decade, journalists have held up Germany’s renewables energy transition, the Energiewende, as an environmental model for the world. “Many poor countries, once intent on building coal-fired power plants to bring electricity to their people, are discussing whether they might leapfrog the fossil age and build clean grids from the outset,” thanks to the Energiewende, wrote a New York Times reporter in 2014. With Germany as inspiration, the United Nations and World Bank poured billions into renewables like . . . Complete story »
Watson wind farm stopped – for now
The controversial decision to grant environmental authorisation for the Watson family’s massive wind farm project on the summit of the Groot Winterhoek mountains near Uitenhage has been overturned – at least temporarily. On Monday Acting Environmental Affairs Minister Lindiwe Zulu upheld five appeals against the 187.2MW, 47-turbine Inyanda-Roodeplaat wind farm. She sent the decision back to her department for further consultation and re-evaluation – but this time with the help of independent review specialists. Zulu, who is Minister of Small . . . Complete story »
South Africa: Feathers fly over Watson wind farm plan
The Department of Environmental Affairs has given the go-ahead to a wind farm project that the Watson family wants to build in the Eastern Cape, before assessing strong differences of opinion from scientists worried about the threat to bird life. The topic came up at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture when evidence leader Advocate Paul Pretorius SC was questioning Angelo Agrizzi. Agrizzi is the former chief operating officer of the Bosasa group of companies controlled by Gavin . . . Complete story »
Focus on effect of wind farms on wildlife
While wind farms have in general been welcomed, they have also been socially and environmentally controversial, with eco-concerns often linked to SA’s rich biodiversity and vulnerable bird and bat species. With new research revealing a potentially much more damaging effect than was previously understood, the impact of development on wildlife has been highlighted in a report coauthored by a scientist attached to a Nelson Mandela University research unit. The report by Peter Law and Mark Fuller has been published on . . . Complete story »
Turkana wind project to earn firm billions
Lake Turkana Wind Power project (LTWP) will now sell electricity to Kenya Power at a 50 per cent discounted rate, it has emerged. The arrangement, however, comes with a rider that the power distributor’s purchases from the firm’s Marsabit wind farm will have to cross a certain threshold. This could undercut other power producers as a 50 per cent discount would reduce the per unit cost of electricity to about Sh4.4 from Sh8.8 (7.53 Euro cents). It is also comparable . . . Complete story »
Storm brews over R2.5bn wind project initiative
A massive R2,5bn wind turbine farm planned for the Haga-Haga, Morgan Bay and Kei Mouth coastal area is expected to create 300 jobs in construction and 50 permanent jobs later. But the bigger impact will be that a large amount of clean energy – 150Mw – will be generated in the area will be good for economic development, according to social impact assessment researcher Kerryn Desai. Some tourism operators in the area have supported the project, but are opposing it . . . Complete story »
