Ngxwabangu Wind Energy Facility, Eastern Cape

Ngxwabangu Wind Power (Pty) Ltd., a subsidiary of EDF Renewables South Africa (Pty) Ltd. plans to develop, construct and operate a Wind Energy Facility (WEF) approximately 15 km North of Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape Province. The project site is situated in the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality (LM) which forms part of the Chris Hani District Municipality (DM). The proposed Ngxwabangu WEF is situated within the Stormberg Renewable Energy Development Zone (REDZ4) which was promulgated in GN R. 840 for large scale wind and solar photovoltaic energy facilities.

The proposed Ngxwabangu WEF will consist of up to 50 turbines, with a total facility output of up to 260MW. The WEF will also include up to four (4) 33kV medium voltage internal collector substations (SS), two (2) 33kV medium voltage underground powerlines of up to 6km and 9km in length (two alternatives), an IPP SS (two alternatives) which will include a 33kV/132kV Switching Station area in order to connect the WEF to the existing Eskom Substation via a 132kV OHL (this will be applied for in a separate environmental application). The WEF will also include a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) (two alternatives), temporary and permanent laydown areas, a Concrete Tower Manufacturing Facility (CTMF), a Construction Compound (CC), and access roads. It is proposed that the temporary laydown area, the CTMF and the Construction Compound areas be used as the BESS footprint post-construction phase. The construction footprint of the proposed WEF will be up to 215 ha (inclusive of roads), rehabilitated to an operational footprint of up to 125 ha (inclusive of roads).