Wind Power News: South 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.
South African wind turbine projects worry private wildlife reserves
Already beset by poacher attacks, private reserves in the Eastern Cape Province are now facing another problem: The rise of wind farm projects covering some 100 square kilometers and their potentially damaging impact on ecotourism. One morning in March, Chris Hutton received the call he had been dreading. His men reported a breach in the reserve’s fence. Poachers, to be sure. 45 minutes later, the team discovered three rhinos collapsed on the ground, a mother and her two calves. Dead. . . . 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 »
Over 800 birds killed after colliding with turbines during four year period-study
Over 800 birds were killed after colliding with turbines at 20 wind energy facilities (WEFs) in South Africa between 2014 and 2018, a new study has revealed. The toll includes species of conservation concern such as endangered Cape Vultures and Black Harriers, both endemic to southern Africa. The paper, On a collision course? The large diversity of birds killed by wind turbines in South Africa was published in Ostrich, the journal of African Ornithology, last week by the Fitzpatrick Institute . . . Complete story »
Hundreds of birds killed by wind turbines
More than 800 birds were killed after colliding with turbines at 20 wind energy facilities (WEFs) in South Africa between 2014 and 2018, a new study has revealed. The toll includes species of conservation concern such as endangered Cape vultures and black harriers, both endemic to southern Africa. The paper, “On a collision course? The large diversity of birds killed by wind turbines in South Africa”, was published in Ostrich, the journal of African Ornithology, last week by the Fitzpatrick . . . Complete story »
Breezy proposal for mothballed Saldanha Steel
The proposed Boulders wind farm will blight one of the most spectacular parts of the West Coast, so why not move it to a site that is already environmentally compromised and degraded – like ArcelorMittal’s now mothballed Saldanha Steel plant? The out-of-the-box suggestion to move a proposed wind project to a shut-down steel plant in Saldanha Bay comes from acclaimed wildlife photographer and environmental author, Peter Pickford, on behalf of more than 1,200 members of three property-owning associations objecting to . . . Complete story »
Giant turbine farm set to harvest West Coast wind
Appeals against plans for a huge new wind farm on the West Coast have been dismissed by environment minister Barbara Creecy, paving the way for the addition of up to 140 megawatts of renewable energy into the national grid. This is the Juno Wind Energy Facility, planned for a farm in the West Coast District Municipality area about five kilometres from the coast. It will consist of up to 49 turbines, some of which will stand nearly 180m high, and . . . Complete story »
