A South African government tender to install 250MW of wind-generating capacity has been awarded to a consortium led by an Ireland-based wind and solar company.

The award was made under the fourth round of the government’s renewable energy procurement programme. The two wind farms to be installed represent an investment of about R5,9bn.

South Africa is committed to introducing green energy into its power mix, 95% of which is coal at the moment, to redress its chronic electricity shortages.

The projects awarded under this round are: the 140MW Kangnas wind farm located in the Nama Khoi municipality in the Northern Cape and the 110MW Perdekraal East wind farm located in the Cape Winelands district and Witzenberg local municipalities of the Western Cape.

Mainstream Renewable Power is a global developer of renewable energy projects with a current output of 17GW from solar and wind farms across Ireland, South Africa, Chile and Canada.

Mainstream MD of onshore procurement, construction and operations Barry Lynch said in a statement that “renewable energy ticks three important boxes for South Africa’s energy needs. Firstly, the cost of these projects is now cheaper than new coal-fired generation.

“Secondly, they can be brought into commercial operation at the speed required. And thirdly, they meet the scale needed to address the country’s growing electricity demand.”

Mainstream has been awarded a total of 848MW of wind and solar projects under this programme since the first award in 2011.

The company is currently constructing three wind farms in the Northern Cape totalling 360MW, which it was awarded under round three of the programme.

Last year, the company delivered three wind and solar facilities into commercial operation under the first round of the programme. — Fin24