Darling Wind Farm

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In August 2006 the municipality of Cape Town, South Africa, awarded a 20 year build-own-operate contract for a 5.2 MW wind farm project located in the town of Darling to private company Darling Wind Power. The farm, located some 70 kilometers north of Cape Town, had a 20 year power purchasing agreement with the municipality. The wind farm consisted of four 1,3 MW Fuhrlaender wind turbines which were scheduled to start supplying an average of 13.5 GWh electricity annually to Cape Town on a commercial basis. In August 2008, the project company signed a 20-year PPA with the city government of Cape Town. The project consisted of 4 turbines, 1.3MW each - producing 8.6GWh annually. The Darling Wind Power was first in a pilot program designed to demonstrate the viability of commercial-scale wind facilities in South Africa. Future expansion was planned in a second phase of 7,8 MW and a third phase of 13 MW. No clear timeline was set for the start of expansion works. The main shareholders of Darling Wind Power were the Central Energy Fund (a public entity 49%), the Darling Independent Power Producer Pty Ltd (26%) with black empowerment partners holding the balance. Financial closure for the $9.9 million project was reached with loans from the Danish government agency Danida, and the Development Bank of South Africa. http://www.darlingwindfarm.co.za/aboutus.htm