Sian Crampsie
A consortium led by global wind and solar company Mainstream Renewable Power has been awarded preferred bidder status by South Africa's Department of Energy for projects totalling 250 MW of capacity.
The projects comprise two large-scale wind farms and will require a total investment of approximately $469 million. They were awarded to Mainstream under the fourth round of the South African government's Renewable Energy Procurement Programme.
"Renewable energy ticks three important boxes for South Africa's energy needs," said Barry Lynch, Mainstream's Managing Director for onshore procurement, construction and operations. "Firstly, the cost of these projects is now cheaper than new coal-fired generation. Secondly, they can be brought into commercial operation at the speed required and thirdly, they meet the scale needed to address the country's growing electricity demand."
The projects awarded are the 140 MW Kangnas wind farm in Northern Cape Province and the 110 MW Perdekraal East wind farm in Western Cape.
Including this latest award, Mainstream has been awarded a total of 848 MW of wind and solar projects under South Africa's Renewable Energy Procurement Programme.
It is currently constructing three wind farms in Northern Cape province totalling 360 MW, which it was awarded under round 3 of the programme.
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