Traffic along the N2 freeway in the Eastern Cape will be affected as components for nine wind turbines are moved along a 57 kilometre route from the Port of Ngqura.

The first of ten wind farms in the Eastern Cape are being built at the Metrowind Van Stadens wind farm near Port Elizabeth.

Transport of the components for the nine wind turbines began in the final week of June and will continue through July as nine nacelles, 27 blades and nine towers make their way along the 57-kilometre journey from the Port of Ngqura to the site.

Marius von Wielligh, director of energy at Basil Read Matomo, the company involved in building the wind farms says, “The arrival of the first shipload of turbines is a significant milestone for the project. Transporting the turbines to the wind farm site is challenging, but I am confident that with our team of experts, and the support of the local authorities and community, we will excel at this task.”

Ken Dyamond, director of projects at Basil Read Matomo adds, “The blades need to be transported on a 64 metre long truck and trailer, given their length, and are rotated at optimal angle so that they can fit under the bridges along the route. With the towers split into four sections for transport.”

There are also two transport routes, one for the nacelles and one for the blades and towers.

Dyamond says, “The nacelles weigh in at a mammoth 120 tons and given both the weight and the size of the hubs, the parts needed to be transported via a less congested route through Uitenhage and Motherwell from the Coega Industrial development Zone to the site.”

The blades and tower sections are being transported on the N2 freeway, the more direct route. Upon arrival at their Van Stadens destination, temporary road closures will be in effect daily at Blue Horizon Bay as components move towards site.

MetroWind formed Rubicept, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) company, created for the express purpose of developing the Van Stadens Wind Farm project.

The Metrowind Van Stadens wind farm would be the first to come online as one of eight Wind Energy Independent Power Producers (IPPs) authorised in the first round of the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) in December 2011.

Major wind farm developments in the province include, amongst others, the Dorper Wind Farm near Molteno and three major projects planned for the Coega Industrial Development Zone.

A total of 67% of the national wind projects will be based in the Eastern Cape with an investment value of R18.1-billion.