EDF Renewables reaches fin close on 140-MW S African wind project

EDF Renewables has achieved financial and commercial close on its 140-MW Coleskop wind farm project in South Africa, allowing it to move to the construction phase.

The renewables unit of France’s EDF (EPA:EDF) said last week it will aim to bring the power plant online at the start of 2025. The facility will become part of a larger site consisting of three wind farms.

The Coleskop park will be installed in Umsombomvu municipality, on the boundary of the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape Provinces. Like its sister projects, it will be powered by 26 turbines with a hub height of 124 metres, with their expected output seen to be enough to cover the demand of around 193,000 local homes.

The three Koruson 1 projects, namely Phezukomoya, San Kraal and Coleskop, were all among the winners in the fifth bidding window of South Africa’s Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) held in 2021. The schemes will add a combined capacity of 420 MW and will be selling electricity to utility Eskom under a 20-year power off-take contract.

The Koruson 1 schemes were developed by EDF Renewables and its local partners – H1 Holdings, GIBB-Crede and a South African community trust. EDF Renewables reached financial closing on Phezukomoya and San Kraal in November 2022.

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