Cookhouse Wind Farm
Providing technical advisory services for South Africa’s leading wind farm project
The Cookhouse Wind Farm in the Eastern Cape Province connected to Eskom’s transmission network as part of Round 1 of the government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). With its 66 S88 Suzlon wind turbines generating approximately 341 000 MWh of clean energy per year, it is one of the country’s largest wind farms.
As owner’s engineer, Zutari provided a wide range of technical advisory services to help progress the project through the feasibility and financing phases. The scope of work included wind resource assessment, layout design, and energy yield prediction, together with the preliminary design of other infrastructure such as roads and electrical works. In addition, Zutari provided support during negotiations to construct the wind farm.
The team also assisted renewable energy project developers, African Clean Energy Developments (ACED), in engaging with Eskom. This progressed the grid connection arrangements for the project, providing technical details to complete site approvals, as well as supported the debt and equity financing process and prepared material for bid submission to the Department of Energy.
The Cookhouse Wind Farm became the first wind farm to connect to the power utility’s transmission network, and today positively impacts the communities of Cookhouse, Somerset East, Bedford, and Adelaide.
This world-class renewable energy asset can supply enough ‘green’ electricity to meet the needs of up to 94,000 low-income South African homes.
While sheep continue to graze on the 2 600 ha of pastoral land that is the footprint of the wind farm, this world-class renewable energy asset can supply enough ‘green’ electricity to meet the needs of up to 94,000 low-income South African homes.
Adding to this impressive contribution to the country’s drive for renewable energy, is that it saves approximately 384 000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year compared with traditional fossil fuel power stations.
*The Aurecon Africa business has been officially renamed Zutari as at 21 July 2020. Zutari acquired Aurecon Middle East on 20 November 2020.
