Metalgalante S.p.A.
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company
CAF Data Centre Industry Outlook
Car Mix

twitter Facebook Linkedin acp Contact Us

Building Energy to develop wind and hydroelectric plants in Africa

The project is in line with Africa’s initiative to increase renewable energy programmes. (Image source: Hernán Piñera/Flickr)

Building Energy has signed power purchase agreements with the South African state-owned utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd to build, own and operate a 147MW wind plant in Roggeveld and a 4.7MW mini hydroelectric plant in Free State

The company had been awarded preferred bidder status under Round 4 of the South African Department of Energy Renewable Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) Programme for the wind and hydro projects in April 2015.

These agreements signed on 4 April 2018 and are seen to be the official start for the construction of the wind farm in Roggeveld, in the Laingsburg area, straddling the border between the Northern and Western Cape Provinces and the small-hydroelectric plant in Kruisvallei, in the Free State Province.

The overall investment in the construction of the two plants amounts to US$400.78mn.

The Roggeveld wind farm is expected to generate around 613 GWh per year. The energy generated is set to meet the energy needs of about 49.200 households every year while avoiding the emission of about 502.900 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Construction work is scheduled to begin in 2018 and the commercial operation date is foreseen to be in April 2021. More than 5.300 new jobs are considered to be created during the construction phase of the plant, with another 7.920 long-term jobs created during the operation phase.

Kruisvallei small-hydroelectric plant is expected to generate around 28 GWh of energy annually, catering to the energy needs of more than 2.330 households. In addition to covering the community’s energy needs, the plant will save atmospheric emissions of more than 23.800 tonnes of CO2 per year, creating more than 714 jobs during the construction phase, with another 720 long-term jobs created during the operation.

Building Energy coordinates more than 40 projects that are operational or under development in Africa and the Middle East across the technologies of solar PV, wind and small-scale hydroelectric energy, including inter alia projects in South Africa, Uganda, Mali, Malawi, Cameroon, Tunisia, Botswana, Zambia and Cote D’Ivoire.

African Review

Most Read

The Bell team in Richards Bay consists of more than 800 machinists, welders, and assemblers. (Image source: Bell)

GFE Power Product’s extensive range covers generators from 10 kVA up to 3,000 kVA. (Image source: GFE Power Products)

The funding is the largest-ever equity raise in the minigrid industry according to Husk. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The initiative will help African contractors participate in annual infrastructure investments. (Image source: Afreximbank)

ITS has evolved into a sophisticated systems approach, providing numerous opportunities to revolutionise road networks. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Inside Condra’s Johannesburg factory: an overhead crane positions an electric motor during assembly of hoist and crab. (Image source: Condra)

Invest International’s Lara Muller; Ivory Coast Minister of Finance and Economy, Adam Coulibaly; and Ambassador Designate to Ivory Coast, Jeroen Kelderhuis. (Image source: Invest International)

The Yellow Metal Machine Rental team with some Wacker Neuson equipment. (Image source: Wacker Neuson)

The parties will also promote the mutual exchange of information and expertise in the field of export credit policies and practices. (Image source: TBD Group)

Although displaying resilience, the report warns that African banks remain exposed to physical climate risks due to both sovereign and industry lending. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

WAA and VCMI will seek to establish regulatory frameworks to enable access to high integrity and fair voluntary carbon markets for WAA member countries. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

IVECO is renewing its entire product range, all at once. (Image source: IVECO)

The MoU was signed alongside the Africa Health Business Symposium. (Image source: Africa CDC)

Both the IMF and EIU expect SSA to rank as the world’s second fastest growing economy in 2024. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

There has been a focus on the sugar industry. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Latest news

Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, speaking at the launch. (Image source: Office of the President, Republic of Ghana)

Dietmar Siersdorfer speaking at Africa Energy Forum in Barcelona. (Image source: Siemens Energy)

The generator set fitted with a Perkins 1103 is providing vital backup power at the St Patrick School in Uganda. (Image source: Perkins)

5G technology deployment will take place later this year. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Spiro will draw from its experience in Kenya, Benin, Togo, Rwanda and Nigeria as it launched in Uganda. (Image source: Spiro)

According to IRENA, concrete policy actions and massive mobilisation of finance at full speed is required in order to meet the 2030 target. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The distributor will hold specialised training and empowerment sessions to enable its channel network to effectively deliver Vertiv’s portfolio, as well as managing inventory to serve the market. (Image source: Vertiv)

The HQ is expected to be completed and handed over by February 2025. (Image source: ECOWAS)

Africa’s share of global manufacturing only sits at around 2% today. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

There are numerous but not insurmountable challenges facing Africa's aviation sector, according to IATA. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Africa Energy Forum 2024 was held in the Fira de Montjuïc in Barcelona. (Image source: ACP)

The quality design and manufacture of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa’s panels and enclosures can be suited to any customer requirement wall mounts. (Image source: SEW-EURODRIVE)

African countries will require over US$45bn in the coming eight years to plug the gap in its transmission systems. (Image source: Synergy Consulting)

BII commits US$75mn to second Green Basket Bond with Symbiotics Investments to finance small-scale green projects in Africa, South, and South-East Asia. (Image source:

Transforming Africa's digital economy: Data Centres powering growth, innovation, and sustainability in the digital era. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Genset BuyersGuide
Construction Buyers Guide