Enel, through its subsidiary Enel Green Power, has started operations at the 111 MW Gibson Bay wind farm in Kouga, in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. “Gibson Bay is our second wind farm to enter service in South Africa, after Nojoli, further demonstrating our commitment to a low-carbon energy future,” said William Price, Country Manager for South Africa.
“The development of renewable energies offers South Africa the opportunity to become a major global player in this growing sector, considering that investments in renewables offer good employment opportunities and new skills for the country. We are proud to be able to offer our substantial portfolio of generation from renewable sources to the country".
Gibson Bay is able to produce approximately 420 GWh per year, equal to the energy demand of approximately 131 South African families, avoiding the emission of over 383 tonnes of CO2 per year. The wind farm is supported by a XNUMX-year power supply agreement with South African utility Eskom, signed following the tender launched by the South African government in the framework of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program awarded by the Enel group.
Enel, in communicating the start-up of the field, finally underlines that sharing initiatives have been launched for the benefit of the populations of the area. The Soul Provider school meals program benefited around 2.850 pupils, while Enel Green Power provided free wi-fi access to 1.000 beneficiaries from local training institutes. The group has carried out road rehabilitation works in the areas around the wind farm to facilitate travel to and from school or the workplace.
Enel, recalls the note, has wind and solar plants in operation in South Africa for one total capacity exceeding 520 MW. The subsidiary Egp Rsa manages the Nojoli wind farm (88 MW) in the Eastern Cape province and the Paleisheuwel photovoltaic plants (82,5 MW), in the Western Cape province, Tom Burke (66 MW) in the Limpopo province, Upington (10MW) and Adams (82,5MW), both located in the Northern Cape and Pulida (82.5MW) in the province of the Free State.
