Wind farm

Located 7km east of the town of Cookhouse in the Eastern Cape province, Cookhouse Wind Farm generates approximately 341 000 MWh of clean renewable energy every year.

The wind farm achieved commercial operation in November 2014. Sheep farming continues amongst the wind turbines, just as it did before their construction in 2013 – 2014.

Part of Round 1 of the South African Government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), Cookhouse Wind Farm was the first wind farm to connect to Eskom’s transmission network, linking directly to the pre-existing Poseidon substation located next to the site.

Cookhouse Wind Farm remains one of the country’s largest wind farms, in terms of generating capacity, and comprises 66 S88 Suzlon wind turbines situated on a high ridge to the east of the Great Fish River.

The wind farm, which will operate for 20 years, is jointly owned by Renewable Cookhouse Wind Farm 1 (RF) (Pty) Ltd and the local community, which has 25% ownership through the Cookhouse Wind Farm Community Trust. This is an ownership level five times greater than the local community ownership target set by government.

Renewable Cookhouse Wind Farm 1 (RF) Pty Ltd is owned by Old Mutual, various funds managed by African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) and the Local Community Trust.

Fact Sheet

• Renewable Cookhouse Wind Farm 1 (RF) Pty Ltd is owned by Old Mutual, various funds managed by African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) and the Local Community Trust.
• The wind farm comprises 66 Suzlon S88 (2.1MW) wind turbine generators (WTGs) and has an installed capacity of 138.6 MW.
• It is situated approximately 7km east of Cookhouse in the Blue Crane Route Municipality in the Eastern Cape, and spans 2 600 hectares of pastoral land.
• The wind farm owner leases the land. Only a small percentage of the land area is occupied by the wind farm, which enables farming activities (mainly sheep grazing) to continue within the wind farm area.
• Cookhouse Wind Farm received Environmental Authorisation in May 2010.
• Construction of the wind farm commenced in February 2013.
• The wind farm first supplied electricity to the grid in March 2014 and Commercial Operation Date was achieved on 19 November 2014.
• Suzlon Wind Energy South Africa was responsible for construction of the wind farm, and is currently responsible for operation & maintenance.
• The wind farm is connected to Eskom’s Poseidon Transmission substation approximately 1.5km from the site.
• It supplies approximately 341 000MWh/year of clean, renewable energy to the national grid, addressing the ongoing and increasing need for electricity in South Africa.
• The wind farm produces enough green electricity to supply approximately 94 000 low-income, or 43 000 medium-income South African homes, and in so doing avoids approximately 384 000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year when compared to traditional fossil fuel power plants.
• Cookhouse Wind Farm positively impacts the communities of Cookhouse, Somerset East, Bedford and Adelaide.