Construction works on the Impofu wind farms in South Africa has begun. Enel Green Power launched the project with an initiative to decarbonize the Secunda industrial complex.
Italian independent power producer, negotiated a framework agreement with South African public utility Eskom for the transit of electricity to the Secunda industrial site. This collaboration ensures smooth integration of renewable energy into the existing grid infrastructure.
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Impofu wind farms
Enel Green Power, along with other energy companies like TotalEnergies and Mulilo Energy Holdings, has been selected to supply clean electricity to the Secunda complex. This partnership diversifies the renewable energy sources, with wind and solar contributing to the overall decarbonization effort.
The initiative to decarbonize the Secunda industrial complex is part of a broader joint vision by Air Liquide and Sasol. Works on the Impofu wind farms involves construction of three wind farms dubbed; Impofu East, Impofu West, and Impofu North sites, with a combined capacity of 330 MW. The wind farms will host 57 onshore wind turbines and are expected to become operational by 2026.
Enel Green Power is investing in the necessary infrastructure, including high-voltage substations and overhead power lines, spanning 120 km of 132 kV lines. This infrastructure investment not only supports the transportation of electricity from the wind farms but also enhances the capacity of the South African grid.
The electricity generated by the wind farms will power the 16 air separation units (ASUs) operated by Air Liquide in the Mpumalanga province. Air separation is a crucial process in the production of oxygen, making this a significant step in reducing carbon emissions associated with industrial processes.
