Mainstream Renewable Power to begin construction of 140 MW wind farm in South Africa

Mainstream Renewable Power has announced that the 140 MW Kangnas wind project, awarded in the fourth bidding round of South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), will shortly begin construction, having already cleared 95% of the roads on site, totalling over 52km.

Located in the Nama Khoi Municipal area of the Northern Cape, in the north-west corner of South Africa, the terrain is typical of the Springbok Flats Karoo Basin, with a rocky underlay prevalent in over 80% of foundation hardstands. The construction team has already managed to clear thirty-three hardstands as well as excavating two turbine foundations, an essential part of construction development.

The construction team has also commenced controlled blasting, to a depth of 2.5m, on five hardstands and is forging ahead to begin building the turbine foundations. The team is aiming to have excavated 21 foundations by the end of September.

Once operational, the Kangnas wind farm will deliver 140 MW of clean renewable power via 61 115m-high wind turbines. It will have the capacity to generate around 563,500 MWh of clean renewable energy per year and is expected to supply electricity to power up to 120,000 South African homes and eliminate approximately 550,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.