WASA, innovative Wind Atlas for South Africa: a high-resolution wind resource map which covers all provinces in the country.
by
Daniel Bugan
07 June 2019
4 min read
by
Daniel Bugan
07 June 2019
4 min read
International wind farm developers keen to invest in South Africa will now be able to make use of a large-scale wind map to identify areas for wind exploration.
This came to light after the country’s Department of Energy (DoE) recently launched the Wind Atlas for South Africa (WASA) high-resolution wind resource map which covers all nine provinces of South Africa.
WASA is one of the projects of the South African Wind Energy Project (SAWEP), with the DoE as the executing partner. SAWEP is funded by the Global Environment Facility through the United Nations Development Programme country office providing support. The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), a state-funded energy research company reporting to the DoE, manages the SAWEP project.
The project came about following a review of wind energy resource studies (2003) that was undertaken by the then Department of Minerals and Energy as the accuracy of predicting wind energy with available wind atlases was very poor. For example, many of the weather measurement stations used in these studies are too close to buildings and other obstacles that obscure measuring the real wind resource. These weather measurement stations are also typically at lower heights, which results in extrapolation errors in predicting the wind resource at a typical megawatt (MW) wind turbine with hub height 70m and higher.
Based on the findings, the following recommendations put forward:
- Obtain a more accurate basis for determination of the wind resource at high potential regions in South Africa and establish a network of long-term, high-quality measurements in these high-potential regions. These measurements can be used as long-term references for feasibility studies of wind power projects as well;
- Erect masts that are at least 30 metres and far from obstacles (trees and buildings). The maintenance and data check of these measurements are also of major importance; and
- Ensure measuring sites are localized by wind energy experts using the present wind atlases in combination with the knowledge of the orographic enhancement of the wind across hilly terrain and/or digital description of the terrain and flow modeling programme.
In a nutshell, the map depicts the local surface wind climate (mean wind speed, mean wind power density) which a wind turbine or wind farm would operate in. It also provides statistics that enable predictions, such as annual energy production of a wind turbine and expected capacity factor, i.e. predicting the bankability of the project with physical wind measurements only to be undertaken for bankable projects to confirm the predictions, thereby saving time and money.
According to Andre Otto, WASA project manager at SANEDI, the map will level the playing field for both small and large scale investors as “it will help them to identify potential wind development areas and estimate potential income without costly and time-consuming wind measurements, which many small players cannot afford”.
The DoE’s acting director-general emphasised the importance of accurately determining the availability of wind.
“As we continue on our ambitious renewable energy path, wind energy remains an integral part of this goal. However, it would be difficult to plan thoroughly for the increased uptake of wind energy if one does not have certainty on wind resource availability.
“Therefore, the need for reliable, accurate and representative data on wind is critical. It is for this reason that the Department of Energy undertook to complete WASA,” he said.
The introduction of WASA is good news for international renewable energy companies, such as Italy’s Enel Green Power and Building Energy which bid for wind construction projects under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). Enel has already been awarded a total of five wind projects for 700 MW through the programme.
The REIPPPP, which aims to secure renewable energy from independent power producers, is part of the South African government’s Integrated Resource Plan which aims to double the country’s electricity capacity using a diverse mixture of energy sources such as coal, gas, nuclear and renewables. To date, the REIPPP has resulted in the procurement of 6.3 GW of new renewable energy capacity, with 3.9 GW already online.
Disclaimer
THIS WEBSITE (AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN) DOES NOT CONTAIN OR CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE SECURITIES OR IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF ANY U.S. PERSON AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT (A "U.S. PERSON"), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES OR OTHERWISE BE UNLAWFUL (THE "OTHER COUNTRIES"). THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR PURSUANT TO THE CORRESPONDING REGULATIONS IN FORCE IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR THE “OTHER COUNTRIES” AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO A U.S. PERSON UNLESS THE SECURITIES ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IS AVAILABLE. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF SUCH SECURITIES IS INTENDED TO BE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR IN THE “OTHER COUNTRIES.”
In any Member State of the European Economic Area ("EEA"), the information contained in this website is only directed at and may only be communicated to persons who are "qualified investors" ("Qualified Investors") within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation").
The information to which this website gives access is directed only at persons (i) who are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (ii) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Order or (iii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is only available to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons, or in the EEA, with Qualified Investors. Any person who is not a relevant person, a Qualified Investor or otherwise permitted under applicable law or regulation to access the information, should not act or rely on the information contained herein.
Confirmation of Understanding and Acceptance of Disclaimer
These materials are for informational purposes only and are not directed to, nor are they intended for, access by persons located or resident in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any of the Other Countries. I certify that:
I am not resident of, or located in, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any of the Other Countries or I am not a U.S. Person; or
If I am a resident of, or located in, the EEA, I am a Qualified Investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation; or
If I am a resident of, or located in, the United Kingdom, I am a Qualified Investor and a relevant person.
I have read and understood the disclaimer set out above. I understand that it may affect my rights. I agree to be bound by its terms and I am permitted under applicable law and regulations to proceed to the following parts of this website.
WARNING: the above certification constitutes a "self-certification" pursuant to Decree of the President of the Italian Republic No. 445 of 28 December 2000. False certifications are punishable by law.
You must read the following information before continuing.
The information contained in this segment of the website is not intended for, and must not be accessed or distributed or disseminated to persons resident or physically present in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to do so. The information also is not intended for, and must not be accessed or distributed or disseminated to persons resident or physically present in Italy who are not “qualified investors” (investitori qualificati), as defined in Article 2, letter e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the “Prospectus Regulation”) pursuant to Article 1, fourth paragraph, letter a) of the Prospectus Regulation as implemented in Italy by Article 35, paragraph 1, letter d) of CONSOB regulation No. 20307 of February 15, 2018.
By clicking the button below labeled “I agree”, you are certifying that (A) if you are in the European Economic Area, you are a “Qualified Investor”; (B) you are not accessing this portion of the website from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada or Japan; (C) if you are a resident or physically present in Italy, you are a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation as implemented in Italy by Article 35, paragraph 1, letter d) of CONSOB regulation No. 20307 of February 15, 2018; and (D) you are not located in a jurisdiction where it is unlawful to access this portion of the website.
You acknowledge that the information and statements contained in the document you are accessing on this website speak only as of the date of such document (or such other date(s) specified therein), and such information and statements may become inaccurate, stale and/or out-of-date thereafter and should not be relied upon for any investment decision.
You acknowledge that the materials on this website that you are accessing are confidential and intended only for you and you agree you will not forward, reproduce, copy, download or publish any of such materials (electronically or otherwise) to any other person if this is not in accordance with the law.
You acknowledge that the access to information and documents contained on this portion of the website may be illegal in certain jurisdictions, and only certain categories of persons may be authorized to access this portion of the website. If you are not authorized to access the information and document contained on this portion of the website or you are not sure that you are permitted to view these materials, you should leave this portion of the website.
You acknowledge that no registration or approval has been obtained and Eni Gas e Luce S.p.A. società benefit and its affiliates assume no responsibility if there is a violation of applicable law and regulation by any person.
By clicking the button below labeled “I agree”, you are confirming that you have read and understood the disclaimer above.
If you cannot so confirm, you must exit this portion of the website