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.
Gone with the wind: Lesotho’s $15-billion energy pipedream
A $15-billion wind farm project that would have given Lesotho bragging rights to Africa’s largest renewable energy project, slashed electricity prices and created thousands of jobs has vanished from the country’s planned projects, leaving behind unanswered questions and politicians who don’t remember the details. The project was designed to increase the local energy production from 73MW to 6 073MW, and would have meant the southern African country could stop importing expensive electricity from South Africa and Mozambique. All traces of the . . . Complete story »
Collision hotspots for migrating birds revealed in new study
New research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) highlights the areas in Europe and North Africa where the construction of wind turbines or power lines is likely to increase the risk of death for migrating birds. The study used GPS location data from 65 bird tracking studies to understand where they fly more frequently at danger height—defined as 10-60 meters above ground for power lines and 15-135 meters for wind turbines. This allowed the team to identify the . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines ‘taking deadly toll on migrating birds’: Map highlights ‘collision hotspots’
They may be considered an eco-friendly way to generate energy, but wind turbines pose a major threat to migrating birds, which are at high risk of colliding with the giant blades while in flight. Now a new study has identified the collision ‘hotspots’ where migrating birds such as owls, swans and eagles are most at risk of being killed by turbines or power lines. The researchers have produced a map, revealing that birds are more likely to get too close . . . Complete story »
Tillatelse for 365 vindturbiner kjent ugyldig
[Kenyan court rules that a giant Danish wind farm in the area of indigenous peoples is illegal.] Kenyansk domstol slår fast at en gigantisk dansk vindpark i urfolks område er ulovlig. – Jeg syns det er veldig gledelig å høre at et slikt vindkraftanlegg og industriprosjekt er kjent ugyldig. Det er bra at domstolen påpeker at urfolkene i Kenya ikke har fått uttale seg i denne prosessen. Det sier sametingsråd Maja Kristine Jåma (NSR) til NRK. 28-åringen har gjennom hele . . . Complete story »
Tough lesson from wind farm land case
Last week, the High Court in Meru nullified the title deed for the land on which the Lake Turkana Wind Power project sits after establishing that due process was not followed in setting apart the 150,000 acres of community land. The company acquired a 33-year lease for the 150,000 acres to develop a 300MW wind power farm near Loyangalani. The project is on a footprint of 87.5 acres which comprises among others, 365 wind power turbines and a power station . . . Complete story »
What would wind farm mean for Addo Elephant National Park?
A wind farm project on the edge of the Addo Elephant National Park could cripple the park’s aerial anti-poacher spotter regime and undercut eco-tourism as an economic powerhouse in the Eastern Cape. This is according to scientists and conservationists after the Bayview Wind Farm proposal was approved by the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment. But concerned parties are appealing against the decision, warning that the low-frequency drone from the wind farm could cause stress in the park’s flagship . . . Complete story »
‘Droning noise from E Cape wind farms – bad news for Addo elephants’
“It’s certain that the noise from the turbines will be heard by the elephants of Addo,” says acoustic engineer Terry McKenzie-Hoy. Visitors to the Eastern Cape will notice wind farms sprouting up all over, particularly around Qheberha (Port Elizabeth). These wind farm turbines emit low-frequency noise, inaudible to humans, but potentially damaging for the elephants of the Addo Elephant Park. Pippa Hudson interviewed acoustic engineer Terry McKenzie-Hoy about his study into the impact of wind turbine noise on elephants and . . . Complete story »
Environment department says no to controversial Watson family wind farm
A proposed wind farm planned by the family of the late Bosasa chief executive Gavin Watson in an ecologically sensitive wilderness area in the Eastern Cape has been shot down by the department of environment, forestry and fisheries because it poses a “high risk” to threatened birds of prey. The 187MW wind farm was proposed to be located in the Groot Winterhoekberg, which forms part of an expansion strategy for national protected areas, between portions of the Groendal nature reserve . . . Complete story »
Feathers fly over proposed wind farm’s impacts on great white pelicans
BirdLife South Africa has urged the developer of a proposed wind energy facility on the West Coast to consider alternative locations to prevent vulnerable great white pelicans from colliding with its wind turbines. In February 2012, Moyeng Energy received environmental authorisation for its proposed 35-turbine Rheboksfontein facility, which is to be built 3km west of Darling and about 15km east of Dassen Island, the only breeding site for the heavy, slope-soaring birds in the region. The company has now proposed . . . Complete story »
Creecy upholds appeal against giant West Coast wind farm
Environment minister Barbara Creecy has upheld one out of 16 appeals against the construction of the Boulders wind farm on the West Coast. Aurora Wind Power lodged the appeal citing the wake effect the new farm located upwind of it would create on its West Coast One farm. An impact assessment must now be conducted of the Boulders’ wake effect on the smaller West Coast One farm. It is back to the drawing board for a giant new wind farm . . . Complete story »
