Premier Winde\u2019s 9th Energy Digicon blown away by potential of wind energy<\/P>
<\/P>
With blackouts hovering between stages 4 and 6 a permanent reality for many South Africans, and the contentious move by national government to prolong the lifespan of some of Eskom\u2019s coal-fired power stations, the need to intensify our focus on renewable energy sources is now more urgent than ever before.<\/P>
<\/P>
The Western Cape Government\u2019s (WCG) Energy Resilience Programme is designed to enable private sector stakeholders to be a part of the solution to the enduring and damaging power crisis.<\/P>
<\/P>
Premier Alan Winde\u2019s 9th Energy Digicon put the focus on the potential of wind energy to become a more integral component in the province and country\u2019s energy mix.<\/P>
<\/P>
\u201cWe are open to looking at all feasible options to close the yawning gap between power demand and supply. We are no strangers in the Western Cape to wind, synonymous with our province. There is no reason at all that we should not welcome the likes of the \u201cCape Doctor\u201d into our energy fold if it means ending power blackouts,\u201d said the Premier.<\/P>
<\/P>
Managing Director at Globeleq, Dhesen Moodley, was the Premier\u2019s special guest this week. Globeleq is the majority owner of the Klipheuwel Wind Farm near Caledon \u2013 an iconic landmark of the Overberg. Globeleq is a prominent independent power producer in South Africa as well as across parts of Africa.<\/P>
<\/P>
The Klipheuwel Wind Farm covers over 350 hectares:<\/P>
<\/P>
The 27MW facility is among the first of its kind arising from the country\u2019s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPP);<\/P>
<\/P>
It comprises 9 turbines;<\/P>
<\/P>
It generates about 86GW\/hour;<\/P>
<\/P>
Around 19000 households are provided with power.<\/P>
<\/P>
Mr Moodley explained a significant challenge that the country needs to overcome is the limited grid capacity. He went on, \u201cSouth Africa needs an accelerated grid investment to take us out of loadshedding in the next 10 years. We need to fast-track investment on a massive scale. We can do a lot more with renewable energy. Renewables are quicker.\u201d<\/P>
<\/P>
Premier Winde said, \u201cThe potential for wind and solar energy in the Western Cape is immense. We will continue helping the private sector to clear bottlenecks, such as red tape, so as to enable more businesses can innovate and become a part of the solution to end the energy crisis.\u201d<\/P>
<\/P>
Ahead of the digicon, Premier Winde and Provincial Finance and Economic Opportunities Minister Mireille Wenger visited the wind farm. Standing at the base of one of the 90-metre-high turbines they were in awe of the technology and innovation that goes into such a facility.<\/P>
<\/P>
\u201cApart from tapping power into thousands of households in the Overberg region, the turbines have become something of an iconic landmark for the area, as well as a reminder of the power of innovation and the increasing need for us to look to renewable energy sources, such as wind, which is in abundance in our province, to help us become energy resilient,\u201d the Premier concluded.<\/P>
<\/P>
To watch a recording of this week\u2019s digicon please visit: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nUBe887mUeM<\/P>
<\/P>
Source: Government of South Africa<\/P>
<\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Premier Winde\u2019s 9th Energy Digicon blown away by potential of wind energyWith blackouts hovering between stages 4 and 6 a permanent reality for many South Africans, and the contentious move by national government to prolong the lifespan of some of Esko…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n