Perdekraal East is a 110 MW windfarm located approximately 30km north of Touwsriver in Western Cape, South Africa. The windfarm began construction in 2018 and became operational in October 2020. The windfarm is part of Round 4 of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, and was the first from this round to become operational.

The project, which will use 48 Siemens SWT-2.3-108 turbines, will supply electricity to power up to 111,000 South African homes for up to 20 years. The wind farm will provide approximately 360 GWh of energy each year, eliminating approximately 410,000 tonnes of carbon in comparison to traditional power plants.

This project will use 48 Siemens SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines each capable of producing 2.3 megawatts. Each turbine has a 108-meter rotor diameter and a 115 MM hub height.

As with all Lekela projects, the Perdekraal East site supports the local community, such as through providing 400 jobs at the peak of construction. While that number has now decreased now that the windfarm is operational, the skills learnt will enable many of these workers to pursue similar roles in future. The site also used the same contractors as in previous projects in South Africa, and as many components as possible were sourced in-country, including turbine towers and the 500 MVA transformer installed at the site.

Apart from the provision of power and job creation, Lekela also supports the community through investment in education, entrepreneurship and the environment. Together with its sister windfarm Kangnas, Perdekraal East is expected to contribute over ZAR 800m to the local community during its lifespan. The local community will also benefit from a shareholding in the wind farm through a community trust.

For more information about the Perdekraal East wind farm, visit perdekraaleastwind.co.za