Large parts of South Africa’s coastal land, as well as various areas inland, have an economically viable source of wind energy. Furthermore, the scale and maturity of the global wind industry have made it a cost-competitive energy option, compared not just to other renewable technologies but also many fuel-based technologies.

Also with significant local content, these technologies can also raise the employment intensity of the electricity generation sector.

Klipheuwel Wind Farm has a 20 year lease agreement with Eskom, should the project then need to be decommissioned, it will be done in accordance with the environmental authority’s stipulations.  Typically they will require all visible traces of the wind farm to be removed. This takes care of the turbines. Access roads can be removed, although it may be best to leave them for public or private usage. The concrete bases can also be removed, but it is often better to leave them under the ground, as this causes fewer disturbances. If the turbine bases are left they would be covered with stone or other indigenous material, and the site returned as closely as practicable to its original state. Wind energy technology is essentially reversible, and compared to the problems associated with decommissioning a nuclear power station, or a coal or gas fired plant, decommissioning a wind farm is straight forward and simple.

By its very nature, wind varies and does not blow consistently all the time. This is why the where the wind turbines are sited is so important; erecting them in an area with prevailing winds ensures that the turbines can generate energy and provide energy to the grid about 90% of the time. The wind turbine only start operating when wind speed reaches approximately 13km/h.

When designing the site layout, our team ensure that turbines are located with ample clearance from the border of the property, main roads and power lines so that, in the highly unlikely event that a tower collapses, it will not traverse the border of the property.

The Environmental Impact Assessment included a comprehensive stakeholder consultation process as a prerequisite.

This process included: community involvement, information evenings, and open communication with all local stakeholders and this played a vital role in achieving neighbour/ community acceptance of a project.

Any objections/ queries from neighbours were made and assessed by the planning and environmental authorities via their standard process.

Our team engaged early on in the project with all local residents and local communities to ensure they are informed and consulted throughout the development, construction and operation stages.

Research has shown that just as many people like the appearance of wind turbines as dislike them.

Wind energy is one of the safest energy technologies during the normal operation of the wind turbine.

The project comprises of 9 wind turbines

Wind turbines are sophisticated machines with computer controls.

A typical operating sequence is as follows:

• when the wind speed reaches around 4 metres per second, the turbine blades will spin up to operating speed, usually around 14 to 29 rpm (varies by turbine model), and start generating electricity
• as the wind speed increases, the generator output increases
• when the wind speed increases to the rated wind speed (usually around 12-13 metres per second), the generator will output its nameplate-rated capacity (i.e. a 2.3MW turbine would now output 2.3MW)
• as the wind speed continues to increase, the generator output will remain at the rated capacity (i.e. 2.3MW) until the wind reaches the cut-out speed (usually around 25 metres per second)
• at this wind speed, the turbine will deploy its tip-brakes and then apply its disk brake, stopping the blades in a few revolutions
• it will then rotate itself 90 degrees out of the wind and park itself
• if the wind speed drops to a level below the cut-out speed for a sufficient length of time, the turbine will point itself back into the wind, release the brake, and resume power production.

The height and weight statistics of the wind turbines are:

• a hub height of 90 meters
• a blade length of 55 meters
• a rotor diameter of 113 metres
• the rotor weighs in at 12.5 tonnes
• the nacelle weighs 182.2 tonnes
• the tubular steel tower weighs 426 tonnes

Klipheuwel Wind Farm doesn’t fall within the ‘radar buffer distance’ and therefore can’t affect any airport or military radars.

Modern wind turbines are not considered noisy; the mechanical (gearbox/ generator) noise and vibration is almost undetectable with the main sound being the aerodynamic swish of the blades passing the turbine tower. Animals and livestock ignore wind turbines, and continue to graze as they did before wind turbines were installed.