Page 13 - AfrElec Week 18 2021
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AfrElec WIND AfrElec
BioTherm Energy connects Golden
Valley wind farm to grid
SOUTH AFRICA RENEWABLE power developer BioTherm and Resources, commented: “We are delighted
Energy has completed all four of its projects in that the Golden Valley project has achieved
South Africa, with the latest, the Golden Valley COD. Thebe’s investment, alongside BioTherm
Wind Energy Facility, having come on stream in Energy, demonstrates a commitment to growing
the Eastern Cape. our portfolio of renewable energy assets and to
The company’s ZAR6.5bn ($449.6m) invest- contributing positively to our country, and deliv-
ment connects 284 MW into South Africa’s ering on our mandate of ‘building communities’
national grid and is partnered by Thebe Invest- to make a significant economic impact in South
ment Corp. (TIC), which has a 37.5% stake in all Africa.”
four projects. BioTherm Energy’s portfolio extends across
The 123-MW Golden Valley Wind Energy South Africa’s borders into Kenya, where its fifth
Facility attained commercial operations on 1 renewable energy asset is nearing operations,
May, 2021, and is expected to generate over 477 increasing this pan-African renewable power
GWh of renewable power each year, equivalent producer’s portfolio to close to 400 MW.
to the energy needs of approximately 120,000 Robert Skjodt, CEO of BioTherm Energy,
households. which is majority-owned by emerging markets
It joins the 33-MW Excelsior Wind Energy investor Actis, commented: “Bringing four IPPs
Facility, in the Western Cape, and two solar into operation in South Africa, over the last nine
PV projects in the Northern Cape, namely the months under challenging circumstances, has
46-MW Aggeneys Solar project and its sister been a proud achievement for us.
plant the 86-MW Konkoonsies II Solar project. “Our Kenyan wind energy project, south-
All the projects form part of the government’s west of Nairobi, is already connected to the coun-
Renewable Energy Independent Power Pro- try’s national grid and energised, so we expect
ducer Procurement Programme’s (REIPPPP) to have our current portfolio fully operational
fourth bid round. before the close of this quarter.”
Sunil Ramkillawan, CEO of Thebe Energy
Week 18 06•May•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P13
