The Grahamstown Wind Energy Project public meeting took place this Wednesday at City Hall, giving the public the opportunity to comment on the proposed development of the proposed project at Waainek.
The Grahamstown Wind Energy Project public meeting took place this Wednesday at City Hall, giving the public the opportunity to comment on the proposed development of the proposed project at Waainek.
InnoWind (Pty) from France is proposing to set up wind-powered electricity for Grahamstown at a wind turbine in the Waainek area on the road to Highlands just outside Grahamstown.
The wind farm will involve the construction and operation of 12 wind turbines, which will each generate between 2 and 3 megawatts of sustainable energy within an area of approximately 18 hectares. Excess production will be sold to Eskom to be used in the national grid.
According to a document provided by the Coastal and Environmental Services (CES), the project will benefit Grahamstown by curbing disruptions in electricity supply to the town, especially during high-load winter months.
The project will also serve to create employment opportunities and the transfer of skills to Grahamstown residents, as well as providing social upliftment in the form of the Makana Winds of Change Education Trust.
Local dairy farmer, Peter Wylie, who attended the meeting, makes use of windmills on his farm and says that despite irregular wind, the small windmills always provide enough energy to supply both his farm and home with water, and that his household is "never without water".
"Why can’t we South Africans develop the technology to make smaller, more economical wind power generators so that we can sell power back to the national grid?" Wylie asked. "I would personally love to be able to generate power and sell it back to Eskom".
He went on to say that while the meeting was helpful, there are still many issues that need to be addressed in regards to the Waainek wind farm, such as the dirt road to Highlands which is in a bad condition.
He also added that he "was concerned that there was no representative from Eskom" at the meeting.
An Eskom representative was not present at the meeting. However, Gary Deysell, an energy advisor for Eskom, later commented that " Eskom supports any renewable energy around the country".
Key speakers at the meeting included Kevin Minkhoff and Louis Dewavrin, representatives from InnoWind (Pty) and Ted Avis, managing director of CES.
Kevin Whittington-Jones, the project manager of the Waainek Wind Energy Project, said that "general feelings seemed to be supportive, certain concerns were raised but the period for public comment is still open".
He also adds that the meeting served to be a "constructive and important" element in the furthering of the project.
