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WIND-POWER

For thousands of years people have used windmills and the energy derived from wind to pump water and to grind corn. After a breakthrough by scientists, wind can now also be used to generate electricity. Wind energy, like solar energy, is a free renewable energy source and will never run out.

The amount of energy that can be extracted from the wind depends on its speed. The higher the wind speed, the more energy can be harnessed to generate electricity on a large scale. However, this requires large tracts of land to install enough wind turbines or generators, which are also noisy.

Wind as an energy source is only practical in areas that have strong and steady winds. South Africa has fair wind potential, especially along the coastal areas of Western and Eastern Cape. Currently, the Klipheuwel wind farm is operating near Cape Town and the Darling wind farm is expected to be in operation by early 2007.
 
Wind Farms
Klipheuwel Wind Farm
Eskom's demonstration wind farm at Klipheuwel in the Cape is exploring the use of wind energy for bulk electricity generation. Of the turbines, the most basic unit is performing the best under high wind conditions in summer, while the largest turbine is performing the best under weak wind or winter conditions.

Overall, the total production annually has been just more than 4GWh. The Klipheuwel wind farm has a total capacity of 3.2 MW, and is expected to generate at a load factor of between 20 and 30 percent. The wind farm consists of three units, that is two Vestas (Danish) turbines of 660kW and 1 750kW respectively, and a Jeumont (French) turbine of 750kW. The blade spans are 47, 66, and 48 metres respectively.

The first unit started generating on 16 August 2002 and the last on 20 February 2003. Each wind generator has its own small meteorological station on top of the turbine, as well as an aircraft warning light. The wind turbines at Klipheuwel generate at wind speeds between 11 and 50 km/hour. Full power is reached at 50 km/hour.

Darling National Demonstration Wind Farm
In June 2000 the Minister of Minerals and Energy declared the Darling wind farm as a National Demonstration project. This facility will consist of four German-designed wind turbines that will produce 1.3MW of electricity each, bringing the total output of the wind farm to 5,2MW with an annual average output of 13.2 GW (28% load factor). This is the 1st grid connected, independent wind energy power-generating facility developed in South Africa. The Darling Wind farm Company (DWP) signed a 20 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the City of Cape Town as well as a Power Wheeling Agreement with Eskom.

The project is being developed with financial assistance from the Danish government through Danida, its funding agency, loan from the Development Bank of Southern Africa and investment by the Central Energy Fund and the Darling Independent Power Producer. Referred to as the National Demonstration Project, it will be used as an example for future public-private partnerships in the establishment of electricity generation. Historically, this was largely the sole domain of Eskom.

The turbines are erected below Moedmaag Hill, about 12 km from Darling along the way to Yzerfontein on the West Coast. The structures will be 50m high and the blades will have a span of 31m.

Approval was granted after the environmental impact assessment as prescribed by legislation. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DFFE) established the positive impacts will far outweigh any possible negative environmental impacts.

South Africa Wind Energy Programme
The South Africa Wind Energy Programme (SAWEP) originated from the declaration by the Minister of Minerals and Energy in June 2000 of the Darling National Demonstration Wind Farm as a National Demonstration Project and her request for international assistance.