West Coast Business News & Directory.

Green light for West Coast wind farm in Vredendal

The construction of the Sere wind farm in Vredendal is expected to be completed by the end of 2013, but power utility Eskom aspires to have the 100-MW wind project completed “much earlier” than indicated, MD for resources and strategy Dr Steve Lennon said this week. Speaking at the official launch of the flagship project, held on the sidelines of the COP 17 international climate talks in Durban,...

I-WEC to start manufacturing. Facility to relocate to West Coast in 2012

South African wind turbine manufacturer Isivunguvungu Wind Energy Converter (I-WEC) on Thursday launched its new blade mould facility in the Cape Town harbour, where it will begin manufacturing its first 50 m rotor blade on December 5. Financial director Thomas Schaal said I-WEC would be the first wind turbine manufacturer in South Africa. At this stage, I-WEC had a single mould to produce rotor...

Wind turbine mould arrives for Saldanha Bay blade manufacturing facility on the West Coast.

Local wind power company Isivunguvungu Wind Energy Converter (I-WEC) on Thursday unveiled a 42-t mould that it would use to manufacture Africa’s first multi-megawatt wind turbines locally. The mould, which arrived by ship from China, will be used to manufacture 50-m long rotor blades – exceeding the span of an Airbus wing. At 2.5-MW, I-WEC’s turbines would be nearly double the size and capacity...

The long awaited Saldanha Bay IDZ Feasibility Study is now available.

The long awaited Saldanha Bay IDZ Feasibility Study is now available. Hard copies are available from West Coast Office National for only R50. email print@pencil.co.za or you can call 022 713 1111 Alternatively you can download the PDF document at Wesgro’s website or just click here. Please note this is a 104 page document, so if you require a printed copy, call at West Coast Office National...

Proposed Arcelormittal Saldanha Steel Wind Energy Facility

Arcelormittal Saldanha works is proposing the construction of a Wind Energy Facility consisting of 6 wind turbines. On my way to work last week and spotted this notice on the fence at Saldanha Steel. News brought to you by West Coast Office National. We deliver Stationery & Business Supplies on the West Coast. 022 713 1111 www.pencil.co.za  

West Coast. AfDB loan concludes 100-MW Eskom wind farm funding phase, for Vredendal

The $365-million African Development Bank (AfDB) loan to South African power utility Eskom, which was announced on Sunday, has effectively concluded the funding phase for the 100-MW Sere wind farm project and a process is already under way to now procure the key components for the development. The new funding, comprising $265-million from the AfDB’s own resources and $100-million from the resources...

Wave Power could be an option for the West Coast, Darling to Saldanha

SA’s abundant sea waves have the potential to provide more than just a good surf. Wave energy — electricity generated from the movement of waves — could provide a cheap and sustainable form of renewable energy. But it’s early days. Oelsner Group, which built SA’s first wind farm at Darling, is planning a 750MW wave energy project off the West Coast, near its Darling Wind Farm. The design...

Windmills planned for the West Coast

New regulations for wind power projects. The Department of Energy announced last week that 1850 mw wind power by 2016 will be raised. This is a significant larger quota than 700mw by 2013 the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2010) prescribed, but still less than the 4 000mw represented by projects already in June this year by the Department of Environmental Affairs approved. The government has deviated...

55 turbines planned for Paternoster, north of Saldanha Bay

Residents of scenic fishing village Paternoster on the Cape West Coast are in high dudgeon over plans to erect hundreds of wind turbines as part of a scramble to meet the government’s renewable energy targets. Environmental authorisation has been granted for 55 turbines at Paternoster, north of Saldanha Bay, and locals say they fear at least 200 more are in the pipeline. The Paternoster project,...

West Coast. Saldanha Bay To Generate Own Electricity

PLANNERS for the proposed Saldanha Industrial Development Zone are considering generating their own electricity and producing their own fresh water from the sea. This became clear at well attended information session, organised by the West Coast Chapter of the Cape Chamber of Commerce. Development on the West Coast has always been restricted by the lack of natural water supplies, but Alexander Horvath...