Can the Secunda industrial complex be decarbonised? With the support of Enel Green Power, a huge process is now underway. The Italian independent power producer (IPP) has just launched work on three wind farms, the output of which will supply the world’s largest oxygen plant, located on the Secunda site. Now in the construction phase, the project involves the installation of 57 onshore wind turbines at the Impofu East, Impofu West and Impofu North sites.
With a combined capacity of 330 MW, the three wind farms will be operational from 2026, thanks to eight high-voltage substations and 120 km of 132 kV overhead power lines. The electricity generated will be used to power the 16 air separation units (ASUs) operated by the French industrial group Air Liquide in the province of Mpumalanga.
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To achieve this, Enel has negotiated a framework agreement with South African public utility Eskom for transit to the Secunda industrial site. According to Enel, “the new transmission lines for the wind farms will not only improve the capacity of the South African grid, but (…) they will also build on the company’s commitment to creating Shared Value (CSV) in the communities where it operates”.
The construction of the Impofu wind farms is part of a joint vision by Air Liquide and Sasol to decarbonise Secunda. As part of this approach, the two groups have launched a call for tenders for the acquisition of 600 MW of renewable energy in 2021. In addition to Enel Green Power, French energy company TotalEnergies and South African IPP Mulilo Energy Holdings have been chosen to supply 260 MW of clean electricity through a 140 MW wind farm and a 120 MW solar photovoltaic plant.
Jean Marie Takouleu