EDF Energies Nouvelles commissions Grassridge, its first wind farm in South Africa

Located in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality of the Eastern Cape province, the 61.5 MW Grassridge wind farm consists of 20 Vestas V112 wind turbines, each with a unit capacity of 3.075 MW. The Grassridge wind farm is the first of the three projects awarded to EDF Energies Nouvelles in 2012 under the competitive tender for renewable energies projects held by the South African government. The electricity generated at the Grassridge facility is bought by the grid operator under a 20-year power purchase agreement. In line with the tender specifications, a portion of the revenue from the sale of electricity is to be used to promote enterprise and the local economy. The Grassridge wind farm is thus 40%-owned by local partners and 60%-owned by InnoWind (an 80%-held subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles).

Antoine Cahuzac, Chief Executive Officer of EDF Energies Nouvelles, commented: “The commissioning of EDF Energies Nouvelles’ first wind farm in South Africa, a country that has been pursuing a major drive to promote renewable energies since 2011, represents an important milestone in the company’s international expansion. Our South African affiliate’s cooperation with local partners demonstrates our desire to build solid roots and champion local development.”