In line with the South African government’s requirements, EDF Renewables is developing its three wind projects in consortium with local investors, H1 holdings and Gibb-Crede. As part of the 5th tender of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP), the subsidiary of the giant Électricité de France (EDF) has been shortlisted for the construction of three wind farms.
The Coleskop, San Kraal and Phezukomoya projects will be located in the Northern and Eastern Cape provinces. The future installations will make a total of 420MW. “This success is the result of the intense efforts of EDF Renewables’ local team, which has been operating in the country for 13 years. These projects can be launched within a short timeframe and meet South Africa’s objectives for the development of low-carbon energy. They will also help to strengthen the reliability of the electricity grid,” says Tristan de Drouas, EDF Renewable’s Director in South Africa.
Financing to be completed by spring 2022
In addition to requiring the participation of local investors in clean energy projects, the South African authorities, under the REIPPP, are planning six months to complete the financial structuring of the various projects validated during the 5th bidding round. Thus, EDF wants to complete the financing of its projects by spring 2022.
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The construction phase of the installations should last 2 years. The wind farms will be connected to South Africa’s national electricity grid under a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the state-owned company Eskom. EDF Renewables estimates that these facilities will be able to provide electricity for 420 South Africans. The company sees these projects as part of the EDF Group’s CAP 2030 strategy to double its net renewable energy capacity from 28 to 60 GW between 2015 and 2030.
And the group is multiplying its investments in the most dynamic energy markets on the African continent, particularly in the Rainbow Nation. EDF Renewables, which is headquartered in Cape Town, has already successfully implemented several clean energy projects in Nelson Mandela’s country. The company operates four wind farms with a combined capacity of 144 MW.
Jean Marie Takouleu