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Wind Power News: South Africa
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
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 »
Wind farm says massive new rival could cost it “hundreds of millions” in lost energy
An existing wind farm is crying foul after the government last month gave the conditional go-ahead for a massive new wind farm project on an adjoining property on the West Coast Peninsula near Vredenburg. The West Coast One wind farm, that has been operating since 2015, says the huge turbines of the recently approved Boulders Wind Energy Facility will be situated immediately upwind of its own slightly smaller turbines and will deplete its access to the wind resource because of . . . Complete story »
Environmental activists threaten court action over planned wind farm in the Cape West Coast
Environmental activists and property owners along the Cape West Coast are threatening court action over the planned Boulders Wind Farm. Government approved in principle, the 45-turbine wind farm project near Paternoster, St Helena Bay and Vredenburg. It says the generation of 144 MW of electricity will result in significant socio-economic benefits at national, local and community level. However, those opposed to the project are concerned about its impact on the environment, tourism and job creation in the West Coast region. Renowned . . . Complete story »
Residents oppose approval of Cape wind farm
A project that has been met with resistance from many Western Cape residents has officially been approved by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF). The Boulders wind farm project in the Paternoster area on the West Coast will see some 45 turbines of 160-metres-tall erected, which may be a step towards renewable energy the country and the province could do with. However, many members of the public, as well as environmental activists, are opposed to the project, specifically . . . Complete story »
Huge West Coast wind farm approved
The government has approved in principle the huge Boulders wind farm project on the West Coast peninsula near Paternoster, St Helena Bay and Vredenburg. The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) issued an environmental authorisation for the project on 14 January. However, its approval comes with conditions that include changes to the proposed environmental management programme for operating the 140 megawatt project, as well as additional research into some of the likely impacts – notably on birds and bats. . . . 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 »
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 »
