The first 35 towers are planned to be installed at the 80MW Noupoort wind farm located in Umsobomvu local municipality.
The remaining towers will be delivered to the Khobab wind farm and the Loeriesfontein 2 wind farm, both located in the Namakwa District Municipality. These wind farms have installed capacity of 140MW each.
The wind turbine towers are being produced at GRI – Renewable Industries’ production plant in Atlantis.
Employing 240 people, the facility has a capacity to produce 150 turbine towers annually.
Mainstream Renewable Power Noupoort wind farm project manager Martina Flanagan said: "We are delighted to be receiving the first of these locally manufactured wind turbine towers at Noupoort Wind Farm.
"Local content has a vital role to play in the long-term growth and sustainability of South Africa’s hugely successful renewable energy program."
The three wind farms are being developed by a consortium comprising Lekela Power, Renewable Energy Trust, Thebe Investment Corporation,The IDEAS Managed Fund and Genesis Eco-Energy in partnership with Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital.
South Africa, through its renewable energy independent power producer procurement (REIPPP) program, plans to generate about 17,800MW of renewable energy by 2030 and reduce its reliance on fossil fuel.
Earlier this month, Mainstream received environmental consent from the Chilean Environmental Evaluation Service for the construction of 182MW Aurora wind farm in Chile.
