Wind farm to power 2010 stadium
September 22nd, 2009Nelson Mandela Bay will receive a massive R1,2-billion energy boost in the form of a giant wind turbine farm to be built at Coega, part of which will be completed in time to power the entire North End multi-purpose stadium during next year’s Fifa World Cup.
Electrawinds and the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) yesterday announced the construction of 25 wind turbines, each 150m tall, which will produce enough power for 100000 homes – more than 50% of the city’s residential electricity demand.
The wind farm will achieve “global firsts”, promised Electrawinds business development director Jan Dewulf.
“A key part of the plan is that World Cup matches played at the new stadium will be the first in history powered by renewable energy, as the first wind turbine will be up and running in time for the start of the event,” Dewulf said.
Talks between the company and soccer governing body Fifa for the completed turbine to power the stadium during next year’s tournament – Electrawinds will offset the stadium’s power usage by feeding the same amount of electricity into the local power grid – are under way.
According to Dewulf, the first turbine would be up and running by around May next year – the World Cup starts in June – while the remaining 24 would come on line by mid-2011.
The site for the wind farm is within the CDC’s industrial development zone (IDZ), on the slopes of a ridge on the inland side of the N2 highway. Further tests on the wind speeds reached at the site have been scheduled.
With previous environmental impact assessments (EIA’s) having been completed for the area, CDC and Electrawinds officials said they expected the wind farm EIA to be approved without hitches.
Source: The Herald
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